After winning the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) for three years running and advancing to the NCAA Division III playoffs each of those years, Thomas will have to do without some outstanding players – including two-time All-American and WIAC player of the year, post player Kelsey Duoss.
"Kelsey made a huge impact on the success of this team," Thomas said, "as big an impact as anyone in our conference. Life after her will be a challenge early on. I don’t know what that answer will be, but I am leaning toward committee.
"Our cupboard is by no means bare, but rather reshuffled. We will have to put new labels on new people."
Coming off a 23-6 season, the Blue Devils return 14 players who saw time last year, with six players playing in all 29 games and nine playing in at least 20 games.
Undoubtedly, the biggest hole in the Blue Devils’ cupboard will be the loss of Duoss underneath, as well as Jenny McDermid, who would spell Duoss.
Dani Boese (Jr, Alma) earned a starting spot underneath during the 2005-06 season and has not relinquished the spot. Julia Hirssig (So, Rochester, Minn) came off the bench last year and became well known around the league in a hurry.
"Dani is the elder statesmen underneath," Thomas said. "We are counting on her heavily. Dani has the talent to jump, play on the rim. As a young player, we let her play in Kelsey’s shadow, and we were able to afford to let her do that. Know, her key will be consistency."
Hirssig is a mentally tough player who is one of the best rebounders Thomas has seen.
"Julia is just a huge plus to the program," Thomas said. "She is physically strong and able to do what this league requires."
Speaking of physically strong, Sam Mayer (So, Bloomer) steps to the forefront. A very talented athlete, Mayer last year qualified to the NCAA Division III track championships in the discus.
"We expect a real solid season from Sam," Thomas said, "but now she is in a completely different role. As she gets more gritty, she can do a lot of damage for us."
Megan Maslowski (So, Marshfield) and newcomers Tricia VanVreede (Fr, Little Chute), Shelby Churchill (Fr, Sheboygan), Courtney Reyzer (So, Eau Claire) and Kristen Laramy (Fr, Colfax) will vie for playing time underneath.
Maslowski has made the transition to the college game and should get more
comfortable as the season goes on, Thomas said.
Thomas calls VanVreede "an extremely smooth player."
"Tricia can get around the basket and can handle the ball," Thomas said. "She can get out on the post and out on the wing."
Churchill, Reyzer and Laramy all come from winning programs and bring that winning attitude to the Stout program.
The guards will have some similarity to it, with some relabeling.
Thomas will look to Lindsey Geissler (Sr, Thorp) to play predominately as the point guard. Experienced at the point, Geissler is physically and mentally strong.
"Lindsey has a lot of savvy for the game and packs a lot of skills," Thomas said. "Defensively, she can take the grind off picking up the opponent at half court."
Lindsey Gerber (Jr, Exeland) returns for her second season
as a Blue Devils and has overcome a knee injury that mayhave hampered her
performance at times.
"She is stronger and able to do more," Thomas said. "She
is playing with more confidence and gained a lot of experience for us."
Expect freshmen Alex Suda (Ham Lake, Minn) and Alisha
Todd (Farmington, Minn) to see time.
Joanna Bird (Sr, Boyceville), Charlee Edwards (Jr, Danbury), Mary Schaefer (Sr, Madison), Kim Stokke (So, Menomonie), Danielle DeWitt (So, Green Bay), Nikki Wyngaard (Jr, Kimberly), and Stephanie Stawski (So, Brooklyn Park, Minn) return as guards.
"We have a different look on the perimeter," Thomas said. "I like our size."
Bird brings three years of experience to the guard position, while Edwards brings a tremendous amount of athleticism.
"Joanna has a ton of experience and has been put in situations where she has to perform and she has met those challenges," Thomas said. "There is rarely a better athlete on the floor than Charlee. She can run, jump. She steps into a different role this year. She is more than just a role player."
Schaefer has been battling injuries throughout her career, but seems to have overcome those difficulties.
"Mary is strong and talented and can use her body against opponents," Thomas said.
Stokke is challenging for a starting role, but whether she starts or comes off the bench, she will have a major role this season.
"Kim is a good rebounder on both ends and has a good mid-range shot," Thomas said.
Becky Wyngaard (Fr, Kimberly), Niki Skillman (Fr, Janesville), and Brittany Gerber (Fr, Exeland) will fit into the Blue Devils’ plans.
The young squad will be tested early as Stout opens the season with an exhibition game against the Wisconsin Badgers on Nov. 4, then will play three Division II teams in their first five games.
While the loss of Duoss and the other players will be most notable, Thomas will be working with an entirely new staff. Mark Noll left to take over the head job at the University of Dubuque and Erin Crank took over a management position in central Wisconsin.
Erin (Churchill) Konsela, who was a guard on Stout’s teams early in this decade, returns as an assistant coach, along with Marianne Galfano, who brings a wealth of knowledge from a vast background of experiences.
"We have a young, inexperienced team, but my expectations are still the
same," Thomas said. "My expectations are not to take a step backwards,
but we will be different."