Wheaton, Ill. – Wheaton College head women's basketball coach
Kent Madsen has announced the addition of seven freshmen that have submitted their deposit to attend Wheaton College, with the intent to play for the Thunder women's basketball team beginning with the 2025-26 season. Madsen says of the group, "We are excited to introduce seven new freshmen to the Wheaton College women's basketball program. This is a talented group that will help us on the court and provide us with needed depth. We look forward to their arrival on campus and the start of the collegiate careers."
The seven newcomers for 2024-25 are:
Emma Benitez (Sahuarita, Arizona/Sahuarita High School) is a 5'7" guard who graduated from Sahuarita High School where she was a four-year varsity athlete. She was a three-year starter for her Class 4A Arizona High School. Benitez was named a team captain her senior year. She was also named to the Second Team All-Gila Region team two times in her career. Benitez was an active member in other activities at Sahuarita High School including the National Honor Society and Key Club. Benitez was also strong academically maintaining a 4.0 GPA for her whole high school career which ranked her in the Top-20 of her class.
Lydia Brogan (East Lansing, Michigan/Lansing Christian School) is a 5'9" forward joining the Thunder after having a successful basketball career at Lansing Christian which included scoring 1,000 points. Brogan was successful her entire basketball career but racked up the awards in her senior year: as she was a CMAC First Team All-Conference player, BCAM's Best (All-State) Division 4, honorable mention All-State Detroit News, honorable mention All-State FreePress, LSJ All-Area Division 4, and AP Second Team All-State Division 4. Brogan also collected numerous awards in soccer and volleyball. Brogan was also recognized for her academic excellence being named BCAM Academic All-State Individual and Academic All-State Individual for all four years for all three sports. Finally, Brogan was recognized by CMAC and received the CMAC Senior Scholar Athletic Award.
Paige Ferwerda (Grand Rapids, Michigan/Grand Rapids Christian High School) is a 5'8" guard who had great success on the court. Individually, Ferwerda was named to the All-Conference team team. She was also named team captain in her junior and senior years. Her team also recognized her success on the court by naming her Most Valuable Player for her junior and senior years of high school. Grand Rapids Christian High School also had success on the court, winning the District Championship in 2023. Her team was also recognized for their academic achievements with All-State honors. Ferwerda also had great success as a track athlete including setting a school record. A dedicated student-athlete, Ferwerda took her academics seriously being on the Highest Honor Roll for all four years of high school and was an active member of the National Honor Society.
Lauren Guyer (Tallahassee, Florida/ Maclay School) is a 5'6" guard joining the Thunder after being a 1000-point scorer as well as being a team captain for the last three years at Maclay School. Guyer racked up awards in high school which included being named team MVP from 2021-2025, she was All-Big Bend Second Team in 2023 & 2024, and All-Big Bend First Team this past year. She finished her senior season as the Division 2A leader in the following categories: points per game, three-pointers made, field goals made and free throws made. Another major award Guyer received was Maclay School Athlete of the Year – Team Sports in 2024. On the academic side, Guyer was a member of the National Honor Society, member of the National Spanish Honor Society, member of the National Art Honor Society, a Maclay student ambassador, and president of FCA, while also maintaining High Honors academically. Guyer wrapped up her high school career with the Class of 2025 Maclay School Spirit Award.
Chloe Kostka (McKinney, Texas/McKinney North High School) is a 5'7 guard who had great success at McKinney North High School with her team being three-time undefeated District Champions with deep runs in the state tournament with a regional semifinalist appearance and a regional runner-up finish. Individually, Kostka earned Second Team All-District and First Team All-District in her high school career. She was also a part of a varsity program her freshmen season that was 32-2. Kostka had success in the classroom making the Academic All-District Team and the Academic Excellence list all four years as a varsity athlete. One mentorship program she was actively involved in was the program PALS (Peer Assistance Leadership and Service). Serving her community is something Kostka enjoys doing which includes being a basketball coach for elementary-aged children the past two years.
Clara Snavely (Navarre, Ohio/Fairless High School) is a 5'6" guard who was a successful multiple sport athlete for Fairless High School. Snavely capped her basketball career by being named the team's Most Valuable Player as a senior. She was also named Canton Repository Athlete of the Week in December 2024 and named to the PAC-7 Second Team. Fairless High School Athletics also awarded her with the Archie Griffin Sportsmanship Award this year. Snavely also collected numerous awards in her varsity soccer career. She was also active in other high school activities as she was named Student Council President. Academics are also very important to Clara as she kept a weighted 4.1 cumulative GPA as well as being an active member in the National Honor Society.
Ann Magee Stradinger (Ridgeland, Mississippi/Jackson Preparatory School) is a 5'7 guard who capped her Jackson Prep career with an induction into the Jackson Prep Hall of Fame. Stradinger was a 1,000-point scorer, named to the MAIS 6A All-Tournament team, MAIS overall All-Tournament team, and made the MAIS All-Star team. One of the biggest achievements in her Jackson Prep career was winning the Class 6A Basketball State Championship twice. A varsity three-sport athlete, Stradinger also excelled in the classroom taking an AP honors course path and achieving a Head of School Honor Roll (which is 95 or above average in all high school classes). She was also a member of three prestigious school groups, Cum Laude Honor Society, National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta. Stradinger was active outside of sports and gained impressive awards throughout her high school career which included the American Legion Award, DAR Distinguished Citizen Award, English Composition Award, and Ms. Senior class.
