Wheaton, Ill. – Wheaton College head women's basketball coach
Kent Madsen has announced the addition of four freshman that have submitted their deposit to attend Wheaton College, with the intent to play for the Thunder women's basketball team beginning with the 2019-20 season.
Coach Madsen says of the group, "We are excited to bring four quality players into the program for the upcoming season. Ellie Cassell, Zoe Nordling, Amelia Sniffin and Annie Tate are players that we believe will help us on the court and are a great fit for Wheaton College. It is always exciting to bring in players from all over the country because it demonstrates the national attraction of Wheaton."
The four newcomers for 2019-20 are:
Ellie Cassel (Coopersburg, Pennsylvania/Southern Lehigh High School) is a 6'1" forward joining the Thunder after captaining the Spartans to four Colonial League championships, four PIAA District XI championships, and two PIAA state-semifinals. As a four-year starter, Cassel was a 1,000-point scorer averaging 12.6 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game in her senior campaign. Her on-court impact earned her Colonial League First Team and Morning Call All-Area Second Team. A multi-sport athlete, Cassel was a four-year varsity starter and captain of her high school soccer team that won four Colonial League Championships and a 2015 PIAA District XI Champions plus she was a member of the track and field team for two years and lacrosse for one year. Cassel was a National Honor Society member, a Via of the Lehigh Valley Scholar Athlete, a Lehigh Valley Soccer Scholar Athlete, and a Colonial League Academic All-Star.
Zoe Nordling (San Diego, California/Christian Unified High School) is a 5'9 guard who helped her high school move up from Division Five to Open Division in two years. She started her high school career at The Rock Academy and helped lead her team to the CIF Championship. As a freshman at The Rock Academy, Nordling was awarded the Coach's Award and First Team Pacific League. As a sophomore, she was the team's high scorer and MVP while being named the Fast Break Tournament MVP and earning a Second Team Coastal League selection. Nordling transitioned to Christian High her junior year where she captained the team to a CIF Championship and a run in the state playoffs. For her effort, she received the Leadership Award. In her senior season, Nordling's team made another run in the state playoffs, and she received the 'Heart of a Patriot' Award and an Academic Excellence Award. Nordling played for the Cal Sparks during her summers, and she also played one summer with Sports 365 on a basketball tour in Switzerland.
Amelia Sniffin (Carlisle, Pennsylvania/The Hill School) is a 6'3" forward who began her high school basketball career at the Ben Lippen School in Columbia, South Carolina where she was a starter and a leader in the state in blocks as she averaged 1.3 blocks per game on a team that advanced to the South Carlinas State Playoffs. Sniffin spent her last three years of high school as the first-ever Wallach Family Military Scholar at The Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania where she was a boarding student. At Hill, Sniffin was a starter on a strong team that competed for the Mid Atlantic Prep League Championship and consistently advanced in the PISAA state tournament. Sniffin received the Spirit Cup for her leadership and support to her teammates. Sniffin participated in AAU basketball throughout high school, playing for the Palmetto 76ers for two years and for the Mid Penn Motion for two years. The Middle Atlantic Region of AAU presented Sniffin with its most prestigious scholarship for a female athlete for her success as scholar, athlete and leader throughout her high school career.
Annie Tate (Elburn, Illinois/Saint Charles North High School) is a 5'9" forward who averaged 14.4 points per game and 8 rebounds per game in her senior year and averaged 12.5 points per game and 10 rebounds per game in her junior year. In her two years playing high school basketball, Tate was a two-year varsity starter who was a two-time All-Conference selection, a two-time All-Area Player selection, a two-time Kane County Chronicle selection and a Daily Herald All-Area First Team selection. While playing in her junior and senior seasons in holiday tournaments, Tate was the recipient of four holiday all-ttournament team selections. Tate was an 82% free throw shooter and was named her program's Most Valuable Player. As a leader on the court, Tate was honored with the Outstanding Athletic Leadership Scholarship.
