Natalie Wetzel led Peters Township to a 50-7 document, one WPIAL championship and acquired congratulations from many Indians followers over the past two women basketball seasons. The Miami (Fla.) recruit helped PT to the WPIAL Class 5A title this winter.
By Jerin Steele
Workers author
In Peters Township’s remaining common season sport towards Mt. Lebanon, 5 days earlier than the playoffs started, Natalie Wetzel injured her left ankle and needed to be helped to the bench.
She knew immediately it wasn’t a typical sprain and loads of feelings ran via her mind.
“I used to be considering ‘Is that this the tip of my highschool basketball profession?’,” Wetzel mentioned.
It turned out to be a second that might add to her legend at Peters Township.
Gutting via the harm, Wetzel led the Indians to a WPIAL Class 5A women basketball championship, the second of their historical past, and for her efforts on the court docket she is the 2024-25 Observer-Reporter Women Basketball Participant of the Yr.
She shared Participant of the Yr honors final 12 months with teammate Gemma Walker.
Effectively earlier than Wetzel lifted the championship trophy together with her teammates, got here a go to to the physician’s workplace to find out her probabilities of taking part in.
“The subsequent morning, I went and bought an X-ray, and it wasn’t as unhealthy as we beforehand thought it was, so I went to bodily remedy every single day and did a lot rehab to get cleared to play,” Wetzel mentioned.
Wetzel was cleared to play two minutes 1 / 4 within the first playoff sport towards Fox Chapel, however her teammates have been capable of construct a large enough lead that she may take the night time off.
Indians coach Steve Limberiou mentioned on the time that placing Wetzel within the sport was the emergency pink button he didn’t need to push.
There have been 5 days to heal earlier than the quarterfinal matchup with Indiana and Wetzel made her return off the bench within the first quarter. She ended up scoring 14 factors in a 51-32 win.
“I believe I used to be solely cleared for 4 minutes 1 / 4 at that time limit,” Wetzel mentioned. “I used to be a little bit gimpy on the market, but it surely wasn’t hurting me too unhealthy. I ended up hitting a pair pictures and we constructed sufficient of a lead that I didn’t even need to go in for the fourth quarter.”
Then got here the semifinals and a take a look at towards a well-known foe. Peters Township met part rival Thomas Jefferson for a 3rd time and fell behind by 11 within the first quarter, however rallied to win 46-43.
Wetzel performed all the sport and completed with a game-high 14 factors. She hit a go-ahead three-pointer late within the fourth quarter.
“It was all the time a battle with TJ,” Wetzel mentioned. “That sport meant rather a lot, as a result of it had been a dream of mine to get to the Pete and play for a championship. Being a senior, it was my final probability. There was rather a lot on the road and the entire workforce needed to get it carried out.”
Although she performed a full sport within the semifinals, Wetzel’s ankle nonetheless wasn’t totally healed. That was additionally the case within the WPIAL remaining towards three-time defending champion South Fayette.
“I keep in mind (Peters Township assistant coach) Daybreak (McCullough) requested me earlier than the sport what p.c my ankle was at and I advised her 75 or 80 and he or she was like ‘that’s not what I needed to listen to,’” Wetzel mentioned. “We have been capable of struggle via it although and win the sport, so no complaints on my finish.”
The Indians trailed by 11 within the third quarter, however Wetzel led a rally within the fourth and Peters Township beat the Lions, 40-36. Wetzel completed with 13 factors.
“Our workforce was excellent at combating via adversity and by no means giving up,” Wetzel mentioned. “I don’t know if we performed an distinctive sport on the Pete, however we discovered a option to win and that’s all that issues. I couldn’t be prouder of our workforce to deliver dwelling our faculty’s second championship. I do know it’s a second we’ll always remember.”
Peters Township beat Conrad Weiser, Thomas Jefferson – for a fourth time – and Erie Cathedral Prep to make it to the state semifinals, earlier than operating into South Fayette once more. The Lions avenged their WPIAL championship loss with a 50-36 win over the Indians and went on to win the state championship.
“I’ve had lots of time to mirror on that loss and, immediately within the second, I believe I can converse for my workforce and say that it actually stung,” Wetzel mentioned. “However now trying again on it, we have now to comprehend how good of a season we had. I’m happy with all the workforce. We have been capable of struggle via lots of shut video games that I don’t assume we might have gained final 12 months. It was probably the greatest seasons in Peters Township historical past.”
Wetzel averaged greater than 19 factors per sport and leaves Peters Township a 1,000-point scorer. The subsequent chapter for her basketball profession is at Miami (Fla.). She’ll head south eight days after graduating highschool in June.
“I’m actually excited,” Wetzel mentioned. “I’ve rather a lot to work on and I’m conscious of that, however I can’t wait to get to work this summer season and play for (Miami) coach (Tricia) Cullop. I hope to have an ideal first season for them.”
It’ll be a pleasant change in climate too going from the bitter chilly of Western Pa. to sunny South Seashore.
“I believe we had a chilly and snowy sufficient winter this 12 months that I in all probability gained’t miss it for a pair years,” Wetzel mentioned. “I’ll miss it will definitely, however this winter was fairly brutal.”
O-R Women Basketball All-District Group
First workforce
Natalie Wetzel, Peters Township, Sr., F
Juliette Leroux, South Fayette, Jr., G/F
Ryan Oldaker, South Fayette, Jr., G/F
Madison Clair, Canon-McMillan, Jr., G
Bri Morreale, Peters Township, Jr., G
Second Group
Lauren Borella, Canon-McMillan, Jr., G
Haylie Lamonde, South Fayette, Jr., G
Taylor McCullough, Peters Township, Fr., G
Olivia Woods, Washington, Jr., G
Lailah Wright, South Fayette, So., G
Third Group
Ali Wingard, Chartiers-Houston, Jr., G
Olivia Kemp, Fort Cherry, Sr., G
Taylor Schumacher, McGuffey, Sr., G/F
Kendra Tharp, West Greene, Jr., G
Sutton Williamson, Trinity, So., G
