Collins takes over as Lady Scotties coach
Having been a coach since 1999, Barry Collins has spent his career working as an assistant under other coaches or as a middle school coach.
Hired in May to take over the Southmoreland girls program, he and the team got a late jump together, but he is happy how things have progressed.
“It went pretty well,” Collins said of how things have gone since May. “We had a meet and greet with the players, high school and middle school, and 16 different girls came to offseason workouts.
“We have 14 on the roster.”
Collins said he and the team will focus on small things, which will hopefully help each player get better. In turn, the team will improve.
“We expect the girls to get better every day,” he said. “If they take care of the little things, the big things will take care of themselves.
“If we get better as individuals, the team will get better.”
When asked about who is back from last year, Collins mentioned three starters and six or seven letterwinners.
Seniors Leah Moore and Breonna Zaffina, and junior Ashley Seder are the returning starters while junior Maddy Bair also saw a lot of time.
Collins mentioned several underclassmen who will be in the rotation or provide depth.
Three sophomores return in Ava Keefer, Bailey Mains, and Sayde Premus while classmate Ava Hernandez has transferred in from Geibel Catholic.
Collins pointed out three freshmen in 5-10 Megan Potoka, Emma Campbell, and Laney Lint.
Southmoreland is in the tough Section 3-AAAA along with Belle Vernon, Elizabeth Forward, Laurel Highlands, Mount Pleasant, Ringgold, South Park, and Yough.
When asked who the top teams in the section will be, Collins did not hesitate.
“Laurel Highlands, EF, and Belle Vernon,” he said. “Everybody is going to be good this year.
“Yough and Mount Pleasant will be good. South Park will be as well. We have a tough section.”
What kind of goals did Collins set for the team?
“The goal is to be as competitive as we can,” he said. “We have been doing a lot of fundamental stuff.
“I want them to grow as individuals and grow as a team. That is our mentality.”