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Hooping it up top: Former AHS star drives talent far north
Photo courtesy of Camilla Munthe - Former AHS standout point guard Taylor Wencis has steered her driving skills to the top women's professional league in Sweden, where she now leads the Visby Ladies.
By J. David Barron, dbarron@starlocalnews.com
A dribble is a dribble, as a drive is a drive, and a hoop a hoop. But that's about all former AHS star Taylor Wencis is recognizing on the hard courts where she's at these days.
Following a circuitous route, Wencis has found herself directing floor traffic for the Visby Ladies in the prestigious Damligan League in Sweden. The Ladies are located in the city of Visby on the island of Gotland, just off the mainland.
The coach contacted Wencis after he learned she was eligible because of her passport status that allows her to be considered a European player. He also liked what he saw from her game film with the Dallas Diesel, where she played following a stellar career at Northwood University, a NAIA Division II program in West Palm Beach, Fla. She averaged nearly 7.5 points and almost 4 steals a game during her four-year career that totaled 123 games as the Seahawks' point guard.
She averaged 11 points and 4 assists for the Diesel while spearheading them to the WBCBL (Women's Blue Chip Basketball League) National Tournament last August. It was another coach in that tourney who helped facilitate Wencis winding up so far from home.
"Lucius [Jones of the Columbus Hidden Gems] knew of an opening [for a specific passport-type player]," Wencis explained via email. "He sent the Visby Ladies my game film and basketball resume and that is how I was offered the contract.
"This is my first year ever playing professionally so I am very new to this style and level of play," she said. "My role on the team is to be the team organizer, the coach's extended arm. I'm the one that has to be the floor general and make sure everyone is doing what they are supposed to do - running the plays right, going to the correct spot, etc.
"Coach wants me to be a leader for the team. I am slowly learning how to play that role in a top league."
Wencis only recently arrived in Sweden. Everything - the language, the food, her teammates - are new to her. And her team, which lost by two points in their game on Friday, hasn't exactly been known as one of the league's power brokers.
"Our goal as a team is to surprise everyone by making it to the playoffs," Wencis stated. "In order to do this, we'll have to be one of the Top 8 teams in the league.
"It will be challenging but I believe we can do it if we keep working hard and learning each other on the court. As new teammates with a very short pre-season we are still getting to know each other's playing style.
"We have great players. We just need to learn to play together as a team."
Despite the distance from home, Wencis is happy.
"I love the Swedish culture. Most people either walk or ride a bike everywhere, so they are in great shape," Wencis wrote. "I'm used to driving to most places back home, but I actually enjoy the fresh air. It is, however, getting very cold here on the island so I'm sure once it starts snowing I may change how I feel about that.
"There are local cafes and bakeries on every street corner and I love my cappuccinos and sweets. As far as adjusting, when I first got here, it took a while to adjust to the time change. I was taking naps during the day so I wouldn't be tired for practice, but then at night I wouldn't be able to sleep. I finally got the hang of it. As far as the team goes, we have all become really good friends. Everyone cares about each other on this team; it's refreshing."
The distance isn't something bothering her parents yet, either.
"We feel it is great that Taylor is able to experience her dream of living and playing basketball in another country," said her mom, Denise Wencis. "We have raised our children to believe in themselves and to follow their hopes and dreams. We never want them to look back and ask themselves 'what if'?
"Before Taylor left I wrote her a letter and in this letter I said, 'There is a whole universe out there and anything is possible. Believe in yourself, believe in your hopes and your dreams. With commitment and hard work you will get where ever it is you want to be and know that nothing great or worth doing is ever easy.'
"She has worked so hard in pursuing her dream; never giving up," Denise Wencis said. "As far as what I hope she gains from this, I can only smile as hope has become pure joy."
It's a joy stretching across the hemispheres.
Following a circuitous route, Wencis has found herself directing floor traffic for the Visby Ladies in the prestigious Damligan League in Sweden. The Ladies are located in the city of Visby on the island of Gotland, just off the mainland.
The coach contacted Wencis after he learned she was eligible because of her passport status that allows her to be considered a European player. He also liked what he saw from her game film with the Dallas Diesel, where she played following a stellar career at Northwood University, a NAIA Division II program in West Palm Beach, Fla. She averaged nearly 7.5 points and almost 4 steals a game during her four-year career that totaled 123 games as the Seahawks' point guard.
She averaged 11 points and 4 assists for the Diesel while spearheading them to the WBCBL (Women's Blue Chip Basketball League) National Tournament last August. It was another coach in that tourney who helped facilitate Wencis winding up so far from home.
"Lucius [Jones of the Columbus Hidden Gems] knew of an opening [for a specific passport-type player]," Wencis explained via email. "He sent the Visby Ladies my game film and basketball resume and that is how I was offered the contract.
"This is my first year ever playing professionally so I am very new to this style and level of play," she said. "My role on the team is to be the team organizer, the coach's extended arm. I'm the one that has to be the floor general and make sure everyone is doing what they are supposed to do - running the plays right, going to the correct spot, etc.
"Coach wants me to be a leader for the team. I am slowly learning how to play that role in a top league."
Wencis only recently arrived in Sweden. Everything - the language, the food, her teammates - are new to her. And her team, which lost by two points in their game on Friday, hasn't exactly been known as one of the league's power brokers.
"Our goal as a team is to surprise everyone by making it to the playoffs," Wencis stated. "In order to do this, we'll have to be one of the Top 8 teams in the league.
"It will be challenging but I believe we can do it if we keep working hard and learning each other on the court. As new teammates with a very short pre-season we are still getting to know each other's playing style.
"We have great players. We just need to learn to play together as a team."
Despite the distance from home, Wencis is happy.
"I love the Swedish culture. Most people either walk or ride a bike everywhere, so they are in great shape," Wencis wrote. "I'm used to driving to most places back home, but I actually enjoy the fresh air. It is, however, getting very cold here on the island so I'm sure once it starts snowing I may change how I feel about that.
"There are local cafes and bakeries on every street corner and I love my cappuccinos and sweets. As far as adjusting, when I first got here, it took a while to adjust to the time change. I was taking naps during the day so I wouldn't be tired for practice, but then at night I wouldn't be able to sleep. I finally got the hang of it. As far as the team goes, we have all become really good friends. Everyone cares about each other on this team; it's refreshing."
The distance isn't something bothering her parents yet, either.
"We feel it is great that Taylor is able to experience her dream of living and playing basketball in another country," said her mom, Denise Wencis. "We have raised our children to believe in themselves and to follow their hopes and dreams. We never want them to look back and ask themselves 'what if'?
"Before Taylor left I wrote her a letter and in this letter I said, 'There is a whole universe out there and anything is possible. Believe in yourself, believe in your hopes and your dreams. With commitment and hard work you will get where ever it is you want to be and know that nothing great or worth doing is ever easy.'
"She has worked so hard in pursuing her dream; never giving up," Denise Wencis said. "As far as what I hope she gains from this, I can only smile as hope has become pure joy."
It's a joy stretching across the hemispheres.
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