by By Dan Ninham (Oneida)
Lynzee McGeshick is a 5-2, senior basketball player for the Crandon HS (WI) Cardinals. She is an enrolled member of the Sokaogon Chippewa Community. Her mom is Tiffany McGeshick and they live in Crandon, Wisconsin.
“Our team record in the Northern Lakes Conference is 7-0,” said Lynzee. “Our overall team record is 13-3.”
“My tribal core values have taught me to work hard, to overcome adversity, to be respectful, to mentor and serve as a positive role model to the youth and the importance of leadership skills,” said Lynzee. “I have utilized all of these core values in sports and academics throughout my high school career. I have had the privilege to work with youth at various basketball camps. Working with the youth is a rewarding experience and I am humbled to know that these kids look up to me. I hope that I serve as a positive role model and inspire youth to participate in sports and excel in academics.”
“Several people are responsible for shaping me into the athlete and person that I am today,” said Lynzee.
“Jeffrey Mayer, assistant basketball and softball coach, mentor, positive role model and friend, has been my coach since my sophomore year of high school,” said Lynzee. “Jeffrey has given me invaluable advice throughout my sports career, he has worked with me one on one, he pushes me to work harder, he recognizes when I need encouragement and keeps me on track mentally and emotionally so I can focus on my game, and most importantly Jeffrey believes in me and has helped me to believe in myself and become more confident in my game. Jeffrey is patient, selfless, supportive, approachable and always willing to hang around after practice to rebound so I can put in extra time working on my shot. Time is a precious commodity and I am grateful to Jeffrey for the time he has sacrificed to contribute to my success.”
“Lynzee is a coach’s dream when it comes to work ethic, being coachable, and doing everything the right way,” said Coach Jeffrey. “She is a selfless teammate who plays to win the game above worrying about individual success.”
“She is one of the hardest working student-athletes that I’ve had the opportunity to coach. I don’t recall a practice, shoot-around, or open gym where she hasn’t been the first one there. And she’s virtually always one of the last to leave the gym. Lynzee has worked extremely hard on perfecting her jump shot and has the purest form I’ve ever seen. With that picture-perfect jumper, she shoots a very high percentage from beyond the arc and from the free throw line. She is not a vocal leader but she leads by example. She takes practice reps seriously and doesn’t waste practice time and sees it as an opportunity to get better. She sets a great example for the younger girls in our program with her hard work and dedication to the game of basketball,” added Coach Jeffrey.
“In a regional game of her junior year, she tore her ACL,” said Coach Jeffrey. “After having surgery last March, she never missed any summer events in support of her teammates. She attended all of the summer league games and tournaments on crutches to be there for her team and contribute to our development in any way she could. All of this while rehabbing her injury to make it back for volleyball season this past fall, and ultimately, to be ready for her senior season of basketball. She has sacrificed a lot to be able to lace up her shoes one more time to play her final high school season. This season, she has been an important piece to our puzzle and has helped us to our current 12-3 record. We’re hoping to make some noise in the playoffs again this year and she will be a big part of our team’s success if we advance and meet our team goals.”
“Keegan Kincaid, basketball head coach, mentor and cousin, has been my basketball coach since my sophomore year of high school,” said Lynzee. “Keegan has taught me the importance of teamwork, attitude, effort, dedication, mental toughness, to empower my teammates, to never give up, to never settle, to believe in myself and many other valuable life lessons that I will take with me into adulthood.”
“Lynzee is one of the hardest workers in the gym,” said Coach Keegan. “She is the first one to practice and one of the last one to leave. She is dedicated to improving every single day and never settles. She has one of the purest shots and is dangerous from outside. Everyday she leads by example. She is setting a high standard of work ethic everyday. She has a major role in the culture at the Crandon girls basketball program. Lynzee doesn’t say much but she knows how to hold herself and others accountable. She always seems to hit big time shots that turn the moment for the team.”
“Larry Palubicki, traveling team basketball coach, AAU basketball coach, summer league basketball coach, traveling team softball coach and mentor, has been my Basketball Coach since I was in 5th grade,” said Lynzee. “Larry has taught me the importance of teamwork, dedication and hard work and has instilled the work ethics that I have and consider to be my greatest strength as an athlete. The work ethics that Larry instilled in me at a young age are also the reason that I have succeeded in academics throughout high school. As coach, Larry encouraged me to set personal goals as well as team goals. Working hard to achieve those personal and team goals has given me a more determined mindset and has contributed to my competitive nature.”
“Lynzee was always leading from the standpoint of being the first one in the gym and the last to leave,” said Coach Larry. “She has a deep appreciation for the game of basketball and is extremely coachable. She’s a gym rat. A gym rat that led by example and along the way developed into one heck of a ball player.”
“Craig Deer, mentor, positive role model, friend and cousin, has given me invaluable advice since I began playing basketball, he has worked with me one on one, he sacrifices his family time to review game footage with me and points out my strengths and weaknesses in each game so that I am more aware of what I need to work on and improve on, he sends me motivational texts before games and texts after games whether I played good or bad. Craig’s advice, words of encouragement, compliments and brutal honesty have had a huge impact on the athlete and person that I am today.”
“Lynzee is an extraordinary person,” said Craig. “She is a class act both on the court and off. Lynzee has proven to be a leader in a variety of ways, one being a leader by example. Lynzee is not the most vocal leader on the court, but instead shows her teammates how to work hard, never give up and teamwork wins games.”
“A perfect example of her leadership has been proven in the last few years. Lynzee was a point guard when she first made the varsity team. She soon realized that the team’s need was not a point guard but a shooting guard. The team needed a shooter that could stretch the defense and shoot them out of zone defenses. Lynzee was always a decent shooter, but when the team started to rely on her, she put the work in. I frequent the gym with my children almost every evening right after the girls finish their practice. One thing is always for sure, Lynzee will be working on her shot for 20-30 minutes after each practice. She shows her teammates that a little extra work goes a long ways. Most times Lynzee will have an underclassman working on shooting drills with her,” added Craig.
“Lynzee is a perfect example of student athlete in a athletic program that expects the most out of their players,” said Craig. “Lynzee’s heart is as large as life and she leaves her best on the court each game. Lynzee has a bright future and I couldn’t be more proud of her.”
Jason Neilitz, AAU basketball coach, mentor and friend, has given me invaluable advice throughout my sports career,” said Lynzee. “He has worked with me one on one, he reached out to me when I was struggling with my shot and worked with me until my shot was dialed in, he has sent me texts after games to praise me when I had a good game and to encourage me when my game was off. Jason is always present at games and ready to give you a fist bump, high five or hug. Jason has always motivated and inspired me to work harder.”
Jason said: “Lynzee is the type of leader that leads by example. Last one out of the gym. First one to the gym. Always has a smile on her face unless she’s competing :). Last year when she did some major damage to her knee and wasn’t able to finish the basketball season she just put her head down and worked to get back to normal strength. Didn’t complain, didn’t feel sorry for herself, just went to work to get herself back to be able to play her senior year. One of most coachable kids I’ve ever encountered. Show her a drill or a move and she tirelessly looks to improve it. I could go on and on. Lynzee is a person you want around. From her Christian believe to her friendly attitude to her work ethic. Just all around great human being. Proud of her accomplishments and the person she has become.”
“My family have been very influential: my mom, Tiffany McGeshick, and my sister, Kaylee McGeshick,” said Lynzee. “My grandparents, Phil and Carol Voll and my Uncle Jeremy Voll. My Grandparents took me to high school sport events as a little girl and introduced me to the game of basketball. My Grandma taught me the specifics of basketball as I sat next to her as a spectator at the games. She is the reason that I fell in love with the game. My Grandpa is my biggest fan and prayer warrior. His love, support and prayers are priceless to me. My Uncle Jeremy has been a positive role model and mentor in all aspects of my life. When it comes to sports, he keeps me in line, so to speak, with my game by not allowing me to make excuses for making mistakes. I am truly blessed to have a loving and supportive family. Their love and support has contributed to my success as a student-athlete.”
“Playing sports has been the highlight of my high school career,” said Lynzee. “I started playing basketball in the 5th grade. I played on the Crandon traveling team, summer league and AAU. In 2016, I was selected to play basketball for Team Wisconsin at the 2017 North American Indigenous Games in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where my team brought home the Bronze. During the 2017-2018 high school basketball season, my team made history by earning the first ever trip to State in the history of Crandon Girls Basketball. Making it to ‘State’ was definitely an unforgettable experience and the feeling of being part of something so incredible is indescribable.”
“In 2018, I was invited to represent Wisconsin on the 2019 Down Under Sports girl’s basketball team in Australia. Unfortunately, I was unable to participate because I suffered an ACL tear during a basketball game, which required surgery and several weeks of physical therapy. I was unable to play softball my junior year due to my injury but I still attended all of the practices and assisted the coaches and at games I kept the books and supported my teammates. I was also unable to play summer league basketball and AAU but I never missed a practice or game. Not being able to participate was frustrating and weighed heavily on me emotionally. I knew that my injury was a temporary setback. I was determined to recover and be released sooner than the doctor had estimated. I worked hard; my relentlessness and determination paid off and I was released to play sports sooner than estimated. I was able to play the last two basketball league games and participate in my final year of high school volleyball. In July, I will be playing basketball in the North American Indigenous Games in Nova Scotia, Canada. After graduation, I have the opportunity to continue my basketball career at UWGB-Marinette. I also plan to pursue a degree in elementary education. My long-term goal is to return to Crandon High School to teach and coach sports,” added Lynzee.
“I am a 3-sport student-athlete,” said Lynzee. “I participate in volleyball, basketball and softball. Throughout high school, I have maintained a high grade point average while participating in sports. I am a member of the National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society. Throughout my high school sports career, I have received various awards. I received Most Hustle Award, Defensive Award, Academic All-Conference and 2nd Team All-Conference my junior and senior year in volleyball. In basketball, I received Most Improved, Most Dedicated, Most Hustle Award and Academic All-Conference. In softball, I received my Varsity Letter Award, pins, and Academic All-Conference. My success in sports and academics are attributed to hard work, commitment and dedication.”
Student-athletes provide advice to other student-athletes to be successful. “Playing sports is a privilege,” said Lynzee. “You are not entitled to a starting position or even guaranteed playtime. You have to work hard and put in extra time during the season as well as in the off-season. Being successful in academics is much like being successful in sports. Getting good grades are earned through hard work, commitment and dedication to your studies in the classroom as well as outside the classroom. Hard work, commitment and dedication are necessary to bring you success in both sports and academics. I strongly encourage girls to participate in sports. Participation in sports builds character and teaches you about work ethics, leadership skills, teamwork, dedication, mental toughness and many valuable life lessons. In addition, you will establish lifelong friendships with your teammates and coaches. My personal advice to girls is to be coachable, humble, and selfless, work hard, have a positive attitude, be respectful to your teammates and coaches and always be a team player.”
Photo Credit: Erica Neilitz and Tiffany McGeshic
