by Austin Perkins ’26
Senior Co-captain guard Olivia Pilecki has been instrumental in leading the girls varsity basketball team to a hot start. The Wyverns currently stand at 7–3 on the year, with a lot of marquee matchups awaiting. Pilecki has been a member of the varsity program since her freshman year and has really grown into a strong player.
“Coming into my freshman year, I had a lot of experience playing, but the high school level is completely different,” Pilecki said. “The movement is a lot faster, and it certainly took some time to get used to, but [Head] Coach Quinn [O’Brien] really instilled a lot of confidence in me and told me the ways I could help our team be successful, and it has really worked out nicely,” she said. There has been a lot of growth on the court, both mentally and physically, for Pilecki since her freshman season.
This season, Pilecki is shooting a solid 52% from the field and averaging 10.2 points per game. During the three-game stretch at the KITs, she totaled 21 points, 10 steals, 12 rebounds, and five assists, demonstrating an impact across the court. When Pilecki is on the court, the Wyverns have outscored their opponents by 90 points.
Up to this point, the Wyverns have been really strong in all facets of the game. Pilecki’s favorite moments of her career came just a few weeks ago during the annual KITs. “To be able to win the KIT in my final season with all my teammates is something that has not been done in over 20 years,” Pilecki said. “That was a goal that has been on our minds for the past four years, especially with my fellow seniors. It means so much to me.”
Pilecki’s leadership on and off the court does not go unnoticed. “Olivia always pushes us to be the best version of ourselves on and off the court,” sophomore guard Eden Gonzalez said. “Being with Liv for a couple of years now, I’ve really seen how much she leads by example.”
Freshman forward Dalilah Malz also talked about Pilecki’s impact. “Liv leads with her voice and her energy. She is always excited to play, and when she makes a three-pointer, she sprints back to get ready to play defense,” Malz said. “Pilecki leads by example. She’s always watching game film and telling us to be prepared for our opponents.”
The season only ramps up from here, with a lot of basketball still left to be played before the NEPSAC championships come around in a few weeks. “We have a lot of great matchups coming up, especially against really competitive teams like Loomis and Ethel Walker,” Pilecki said. “We have a good chance to come out on top.”
