The562’s coverage of Long Beach Wilson Athletics is sponsored by Joel Bitonio, Class of 2009.
Wilson will enter their second full year of the Hank Waddles era with something to prove. After a tough fifth place finish in the Moore League last year, the Bruins are sharpening their skills and building their own identity this winter.
“This year feels an awful lot different,” Waddles said. “From the beginning of the offseason, we were doing things differently and as a staff, it was our own program.”
Waddles said last year, his team felt like it was in an “in between” state. After taking over for the Bruins midseason in 2023-24, last winter was still a transition period for Wilson. But this year, Waddles and his staff have been trying to build their own identity.
“It’s just a lot more clear to everybody in the program that this is who we are and this is what we’re doing going forward,” Waddles said. “This year, there’s more freedom for us to be who we are and the vision that I see for the program.”
There’s a strong set of returners that are building this identity alongside Waddles. Emily Alvarez-Smith was the only All-Moore League First Team representative for the Bruins last year as a freshman. Now returning for her sophomore season, Waddles is excited for what she’ll bring to the court.
“She’s our point guard, our leading scorer last year, and so the expectations are high for her,” Waddles said. “She’s a hard worker in the gym, she’s an aggressive player on the court. She’s a fearless player, sometimes too fearless even.”
Sarai Shepherd is another returner for Wilson. Just like Alvarez-Smith, Shepherd is a young sophomore who will be a leader on the Bruins’ squad this winter.
Alvarez-Smith and Shepherd won’t be the only underclassmen talent. Guards Ty’shana Alexander and Kaylee Mascarinas are joining Wilson this year as only two freshmen on varsity.
“[Alexander] has a ton of potential. Her ceiling is really high, and she’s going to be one of our more important players,” Waddles said of his freshman starter. “She’s a shooting guard type, she’s a phenomenal defender, even at this age, and she’s aggressive on offense.”
While young talent is a strength at Wilson, the Bruins also have some upperclassmen returning to the court. Junior forward Jordyn Jefferson will be a big name for Wilson this year, bringing a high level of athleticism to the court for the Bruins.
“She’s shown a lot of growth in the last year,” Waddles said. “She had some injury issues last year and so I’m really excited to see what she can do in a full season. I think she’s going to open some eyes.”
Waddles also said there are a handful of seniors representing Wilson this season. Forward Madison Butler and guard Penelope Nuñez are two of these upperclassmen that are going to be important parts of the squad.
Jefferson said with an array of ages, chemistry is one of the most important aspects of her squad this year. Whether they’re casually hanging out at school or scheduling team bonding through activities like bowling, it’s crucial that the team is strongly united both on and off the court.
“We’re extra tight. I feel like these girls are my sisters,” Jefferson said.
Wilson’s team is young this year, and fans can expect to see big performances come from the underclassmen. Having a younger squad can bring challenges, but Waddles said he is excited for the leadership opportunities it is opening up.
“There’s openings for kids to lead in different ways, whether it’s by example or or vocally,” Waddles said. “Different girls have different skill sets and are comfortable leading in different ways.”
Waddles said he was disappointed to miss the playoffs last year and is hoping to turn that around this season. The Bruins are already off to a 1-0 start after defeating Gahr 55-32 on Nov. 17, but their Moore League season will start Dec. 12 against Cabrillo.
“Our goal this year is to go to playoffs and beat a few people,” Jefferson said. “We’re not going to say no names, but just beat some of these teams.”
