LOMBARD — Trinity had no trouble in the opening round of the Montini Christmas Tournament and a big reason why was the Blazers’ Kaitlin Aylward.
The 6-0 junior forward was tasked with shutting down Plainfield East’s best player, forward Mikaela Manson, and Aylward did just that limiting her to 10 points in the 74-32 win for Trinity (10-0).
“[Aylward] only had nine points, but I thought she dominated every aspect of the game,” Trinity head coach Eddie Stritzel said. “I use the term, she blows up the other team’s post, because whoever she guards, it’s generally over for that kid that night.
“She can guard anyone from a [shooting guard] to a [center]. She can shoot it, she can stretch the floor from three, she can post up. She’s always been a great player for us but now I believe she’s one of the better players in all the area.”
It came from a lot of hard work. Aylward has spent many days in the weight room since last season.
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She and her teammates worked out at Flahive’s Advanced Strength Training in Des Plaines three times a week before the season and she embraces all exercise.
Aylward has performed everything from bar presses, sit-ups, lunges, squats and planks. For her bar press squat she does four sets of four with 125 pounds.
“We’ve been lifting since last year and I feel like it’s gotten a lot easier for me,” Aylward said. “The people [at Flahive’s] have told me I’m the strongest woman in the gym. It means a lot to me to know how strong I am and that I’m bringing that to the game.”
Although she’s gotten stronger, Aylward also knows the importance of keeping up her endurance and speed.
“That gets me more playing time,” Aylward said. “If I’m a person who can only guard posts, I won’t fit in this program because we switch [on] screens. So if I get on a guard and they blow past me, [Stritzel] is going to take me out right away. Now he knows I can handle whoever comes on me.”
Teammate Annie McKenna, who had a game-high 22 points against Plainfield East (3-8), can see a big difference in Aylward’s game since last season.
“She’s gotten so much better in the post,” McKenna said. “She’s really gotten stronger and it translates into the game. She’s really stepped it up this year and is doing a great job.”
While Aylward has made major improvements, Stritzel knows she can get even better this season, especially in one area.
“Her confidence,” Stritzel said. “When she doesn’t touch the ball for a couple times she goes into a shell and thinks she’s just a role player. I don’t want her to think like she’s a role player. She’s a big-time player.”