Waterford’s Avery Wagner (30) handles the ball as Fort Loramie’s Victoria Mescher (21) defends during last year’s state championship game at UD Arena. (Photo by Jordan Holland)

WATERFORD — The Waterford Wildcats are right where they said they’d be a year ago.

Following a 42-29 loss to Fort Loramie in last season’s state championship game, then-junior Avery Wagner stated in the postgame press conference “we’ll be back next year. That’s our plan.”

Wagner was right. A year later, Waterford is back in the state final. Perhaps what Wagner and the Wildcats didn’t know — or maybe they did — is that Fort Loramie would be back as well. The two teams will square off for the ultimate prize at 5:15 p.m. Saturday inside UD Arena.

The Redskins, who are four-time state champions, are looking to repeat as state champs for the first time in program history. Two of those titles came against the Wildcats — last year and 2015, which was Waterford’s first time playing for the state crown.

Since that 2015 campaign, Waterford has made it to the state finals five more times, winning it all twice (2016 and 2022). However, the Wildcats have yet to solve head coach Carla Siegel’s Redskins.

Waterford head coach Jerry Close addresses his players prior to last year’s state championship game against Fort Loramie at UD Arena. (Photo by Jordan Holland)

In last year’s matchup, Avery Brandewie led Fort Loramie with 17 points and eight rebounds. Victoria Mescher tallied five points, and more importantly, seven steals in a game where turnovers proved to be crucial — Waterford committed 20 in the game.

“They’re really, really good defensively,” said Waterford head coach Jerry Close. “They have great defensive pressure. That’s what they pride themselves on. Last year they scored 20 points off turnovers. We just can’t allow that to happen. That’s something we’ve got to get cleaned up, and we’ve done a better job of taking care of the ball as this season’s gone on.”

Brandewie and Mescher both are back for the Redskins. Ariel Heitkamp, Maddie Shatto and Mylee Shatto are the other returnees who played in the 2024 state championship game.

“Mescher and Brandewie are two really good players and they have a good supporting cast,” Close said. “The big challenge is keeping them out of the paint and figuring out ways to score.”

Fort Loramie is 25-3 after beating Ottoville 52-40 in the state semis.

The Waterford student section cheers during last year’s state championship game against Fort Loramie at UD Arena. (Photo by Jordan Holland)

Waterford comes in at 26-1 after defeating Mogadore 48-34 in the Final Four. Kendall Sury, Avery Wagner, Avery Smithberger, Elsie Malec and Brynnlee Pottmeyer make up the starting lineup. Only Pottmeyer, a freshman, didn’t play in last year’s meeting. The other four have waited a year for redemption.

“It’s important we don’t dwell on mistakes,” Close said. “We’ve just got to get back out there and not worry about it. It’s a game of runs. Guard against those turnovers and keep possessions.”

Sury scored 19 of Waterford’s 29 points last time against the Redskins. Wagner had three points, nine boards and five blocks. Smitherberger added four points while Malec tallied three. The Wildcats were 8 for 25 (32%) from the floor.

“We need everyone to be involved and we’ve got to stay out of foul trouble,” Close said. “It has got to be a total team effort. We can’t rely on one person to score all the points. They’ve got two girls around 6 feet tall, and they’re strong girls, so it’s going to tough to get paint points.”

Smithberger, Sury and Wagner make up Waterford’s senior class. They were freshmen on the 2022 team that won it all and are looking to become the first players at Waterford to win two state titles.

Waterford's Elsie Malec (3) plays defense against Fort Loramie during last year's state championship game at UD Arena. (Photo by Jordan Holland)

It’s a different tournament format this year. In the past, teams advancing to the Final Four would have two games to prepare for, but this year the championship games have been isolated into their own week.

“Playing the semifinal on Friday, it didn’t really feel like a state semifinal,” Close said. “It’s nice to get back in the gym and have the chance to go to Dayton. Having this week-long break has been a lot different.”

Close and his staff, which includes assistants Todd Hilverding, Curry Ryan and Betsy Schramm, rewatched the film of last year’s state final in addition to studying the Redskins’ film from this season.

“It’s a combination of both,” Close said. “Players change but the systems typically don’t change much. Really you’re just hoping you cross all the T’s and dot all the I’s. You’re hoping you cover everything.”

Close is excited to once again experience the sea of green that Waterford always brings to the state tournament.

Waterford’s Kendall Sury (10) looks to pass during last year’s state championship game against Fort Loramie at UD Arena. (Photo by Jordan Holland)

“Our crowd will be there in full force, and so will their’s,” Close said. “It’s two of the highest traveled teams, and it’s always nice to see both sides of the gym packed. I look forward to that, I like for the kids to look up and see all the support.”

Contact Jordan Holland at jholland@mariettatimes.com.