Meadows takes over at Geneva

Updated: May 31, 2011 8:38PM

Geneva athletic director Jim Kafer decided the best way to continue the success of girls basketball program was to allow one its builders to take over the varsity team, as the school announced that sophomore coach Sarah Meadows is filling the position left vacant by Gina Nolan’s resignation in the spring.

“I’m super excited,” Meadows said. “It’ll be a big challenge but I’m excited for that. Gina has set the standard pretty high so I have some big shoes to fill, but it’ll be fun. She encouraged me to go for (the job) and it worked out. I love the kids, the parents have been nothing but supportive, and I’m looking forward to it. On my sophomore team we had some kids who had a lot of potential so it’ll be interesting to see how it all works out. There’s a lot of talent. It’ll be fun to watch.”

In a statement announcing the hire, Kafer said, “Gina is an impossible act to follow but we are confident that Sarah will carry on the tradition of success that has been established.”

Meadows and Nolan came to Geneva together as freshman coaches nine seasons ago.

“I’m very happy for Sarah and for the girls,” Nolan said. “It’s a great fit and I’ll think she’ll do a great job.”

Many of the players who propelled the Vikings to a state trophy in 2009 and at least 20 wins every year since 2004-05 have been coached by Meadows, including sophomore forward Sami Pawlak, who played for Meadows last summer before being called up to varsity this past season.

“I’m excited. I thought she was a really good coach,” Pawlak said. “She’s really fun, but she’s determined to win each game, so with her being that aggressive we hope we’re going to do well.”

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