Kaitlin Cassidy ready for new role with defending state champion Notre Dame

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD.WYZZ) — This summer is already better than last year in the eyes of Kaitlin Cassidy.

she sprained her ankle last June and it limited her participation for summer hoops. This summer is also better because she’s playing on a defending state champion.

“I think coming off a state championship I have a lot more confidence than I did in my freshman and sophomore summers,” said the Notre Dame senior. “I think I’m confident this year.”

Cassidy was a varsity player as a freshman but was happy to stay quiet and in play the shadows of older players. This year Kaitlin Cassidy knows that can’t be the case.

“Freshman and sophomore years I kind of shied away. I let Mya (Wardle) and the older girls lead me. It wasn’t a bad thing,” said Cassidy. “But now I have more of a role to speak up. And I have a bigger role on the court.”

The senior forward and her Irish beat Washington on Wednesday to clinch their second straight Illinois Central College summer league title with an 8-0 record. She’s trying to be more of a leader this summer

“The first couple of years, she deferred to the older kids,” said Notre Dame coach Layne Langholf. “We talked about it all last year with her. We said, ‘You have to be vocal, you know how to play, you know what we need. Be for vocal in the huddles and at practice.’ She has stepped up.”

She’s spending the summer learning her new role. Cassidy has learned the ropes after watching a lot of former Notre Dame players take the lead.

Now it’s her turn.

“I just remember at PND on the first day of kid’s camp getting to meet all the big high schoolers. I really looked up to them and now here I am as the big high schooler,” she said with a smile. “The seniors were great, they took me under their wing. That’s what I’m trying to do this year.”

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