Special to the Leader & Times
The Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Division 1 women's basketball preseason poll has been released, and the Lady Saints have been picked to finish seventh ahead of the 2025-26 season.
Seward is picked to finish seventh in the 13-team league. Reigning Region 6 and KJCCC champion Dodge City was picked to repeat followed by Hutchinson and Coffeyville in second and third.
A season ago the Lady Saints finished 20-12 overall and 14-10 in league action, good for a sixth-place finish in the conference and Seward's first 20-win season in three years. Avery Marchino, Trinitee Holmes, RaMya Kennedy and Destiny Alexander return from that team with Marchino earning All-KJCCC honorable mention honors as a freshman.
Head coach Will Marchino is set to begin his third year at the helm of the Lady Saints with Bianca Gutierrez stepping into the lead assistant coach role to round out the staff. Seward finished 12-4 at home under Marchino last season. The Saints roster this season is made up of nine freshmen and four sophomores.
The first look at the Saints for fans comes this Saturday at 5 p.m. in The Greenhouse for Saints Preview Night. There will be fun for all ages including giveaways, team introductions, a dunk contest, a 3-Point Contest, games for fans/kids/students, autographs, a gear sale, scrimmages and more.
Seward opens its 2025-26 season on the road in La Junta, Colo., taking part in the Otero Classic. They play host Otero College on Friday, Oct. 31, at 6 p.m. and close the tournament out on Saturday, Nov. 1, against Trinidad State at 1 p.m.
Seward then turns around and hosts the Seward Classic from Nov. 8-9 when the Lady Saints take on Otero Saturday, Nov. 8, at 7 p.m. in their home opener and close the classic out Sunday, Nov. 9, against Northeastern Junior College at 3 p.m.
