It's all-change for Wolves' National League girls' sides with Tor Freeman and Emerson Westerby moving on.
Freeman takes up at job with Kent Crusaders, where he played EABL basketball under coach Jesse Sazant, while Westerby moves to the north of England. .
Freeman took over the under-14 girls side in the summer of 2019, with the team finishing third in his debut season before the play-offs were abandoned due to Covid. Despite the pandemic ruining the following season, he helped ensure that his players got the most out of a difficult situation, including outdoor sessions at a tennis court in Flamstead. He coached both the under-12 and under-14 girls teams in the short 2021 summer season as Wolves managed to salvage something by playing into mid-July.
His efforts saw him named as Sport England Young Coach of the Year for 2021 as a basketball coach took the trophy for the first time, and the summer saw him step up to coach the U-16 girls as well as continuing to oversee the younger girls teams.
Wolves U-16 girls finished the season as runners-up in a tough South 1 division, reaching the quarter-finals of the play-offs. They only lost to two clubs all season ,finishing with an overall record of 13-5, with National Cup winners and final four participants Haringey Angels and Richmond Knights - another final four team - the only sides to beat them.
Westerby took over the U-14 girls team from Freeman in the summer of 2021, combining his coaching duties at Wolves while still playing for the GB Masters team. He faced a challenging season on and off the court but the young Wolves surpassed all expectations by winning the East Division title with a 12-2 record.
"We're going to miss both Tor and Emerson" said Wolves' secretary Dave Ryan. "Tor was a like a breath of fresh air when he arrived three years ago and he's been a massive influence throughout the girls' side of the club. I watched virtually every game he coached during his three years with Wolves and his enthusiasm never waned. Even during that 108-4 defeat for the under-12s last summer! Emerson helped us out massively when he joined us late last summer, and to coach his team to a league title was a massive achievement. I know both sets of players are disappointed to see their coaches move on, but we wish them good luck in the future and thank them for their considerable contributions to the Wolfpack.
Wolves' full NBL coaching line-up will be announced in the coming weeks.
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