Former Titan, Taylor Fechner, returns to lead Titan girls basketball team

The Tea Area High School girls’ basketball team is gearing up for an exciting season full of firsts, led by new head coach Taylor Fechner. This year, the Titans step into Class AA competition for the first time, with their season opener set for Monday, December 9, at home against Sioux City North. The varsity game will tip off at 6:30 p.m., and the team will hit the road on Friday, December 13, to face Huron.

Fechner, a former player for Tea Area, will be taking the reins as head coach in his first year leading the program. 

“Growing up a coach’s kid, I lived in the gym and coaching is something I have wanted to do ever since I can remember.  I have seen the relationships my dad has developed over the years and the impact you can make as a coach,” said Fechner. “Making a positive impact on our youth is what drives me to want to continue coaching.”

Fechner brings a rich basketball background, having served as an assistant coach at Elkton under Steve Erickson while in college and was the head boys’ coach in Canton for the past five years. Growing up as the son of a coach, Fechner’s passion for the game was ignited early, as he coached a sixth grade Tea team in high school. He also worked with Sanford for four years as the Team Coordinator for the basketball program. Fechner is eager to bring his experience back to his hometown.

“I think I am most excited about getting back to a community that has supported my family for so long.  I went to school here, my brothers played here, and my dad coached here,” said Fechner. “The community has always rallied around them and I’m excited to give back.”

The Titans’ coaching staff also includes Clayton Sorum, who will lead the JV team, and Stephen Waltner, coaching the sophomores and C-team. Both assistants are in the early stages of their coaching careers, but Fechner is confident in their commitment and potential.

“While both coaches are young in their coaching journey, they are extremely eager to learn and are bought into what we are doing here,” said Fechner. “I am excited to watch their coaching careers take off.”

The team faces the challenge of replacing several standout players lost to graduation, including Katie Vasecka (who currently plays at SDSU), Mara Grant (who currently plays at Dordt), Haidyn West, and Miah Weber. 

Returning players Reese Hammerquist, Jaycee Babb, Ellie Clayberg, and Anna Binde are expected to anchor the lineup bringing back the bulk of the returning minutes from a year ago. The team will also see key contributions from Kya Haynes, Tatym Slykhuis, and Emma Lingren.

Despite these changes, Fechner is optimistic about the team’s athleticism and work ethic. 

“We are going to have an extremely athletic group this season.  This is going to allow us to play a variety of styles,” said Fechner. “One of the things I love about this group is that at any given day, any one of our 21 girls could be the hardest worker which is a rarity to have.”

Last season, the Titans posted a 21-5 record and finished as State A runner-ups in their first-ever state tournament appearance in school history. Fechner aims to build on that success, with a goal of returning to the state tournament this year.

“As always, our goal and expectations are to make a return to the state tournament,” said Fechner. “We have the roster to make a run and have a bit of a young team with only three seniors.  Look for us to continue to get better as the year goes on and everyone starts to settle into their roles and get more comfortable in our system.”

Members of the 2024 Titans include (Returning starters are marked with an asterisk *): 

• Seniors: Kya Haynes, Reese Hammerquist*, Sienna Mork

• Juniors: Jaycee Babb, Ellie Clayberg*, Anna Binde, Tatym Slykuis, Preslie Benning, Natalie Gass, Kiley Pendergast

• Sophomores: Tallie Peschong, Abuol Deng, Addison Brech

• Freshmen: Emma Lingren, Grace Bialas, Piper Benning, Daphne Decker, Logan Castle, Paige Sabers, Lily Turek

• 8th Grade: Jayna Vanlaecken

Fechner is confident in the team’s roster knowing he will be facing stiff competition this year in Class AA.

“O’Gorman, Brandon, Jefferson, and Washington look to be strong again this year,” Fechner noted. “There are a lot of really good teams in the area this year and girls AA is going to be as strong as ever.”

As the team begins its journey in Class AA, the community will be watching closely to see how the Titans fare in this new chapter of Tea Area basketball history.