The Kirtland girls’ basketball program is turning the page this winter — and it’s a new chapter filled with excitement and optimism.
After 17 successful seasons at Eastlake North, where he built one of the area’s most consistent and respected programs, Paul Force takes over as the new head coach of the Hornets. Force compiled an impressive 285-125 career record over 18 seasons (17 at North, one at Ledgemont) and now returns home to lead the program in the community where he lives and his children attend school.
“I am excited to begin a new chapter at Kirtland,” Force said. “It is the community that I live in and the school district where my kids go to school. There is a great academic and athletic tradition at Kirtland, and I am excited to be a part of that and help to continue to build it.”
The Hornets are coming off a 14-10 season under former coach Matt Ridgeway, but the roster looks much different this year after graduating six seniors who formed the core of last season’s team. That turnover opens the door for a number of new contributors eager to make their mark.
“I know we graduated six seniors who were the cornerstones of the team last season and that provides an exciting opportunity for a lot of the girls we have in the gym right now to step into leadership roles as well as on-court roles,” Force said.
While the Hornets may lack varsity experience, they’re rich in energy, effort, and coachability — three traits that Force believes will help shape the program’s foundation.
“We are relatively inexperienced as far as varsity basketball goes, but we have some great kids who are willing to listen and work,” he said. “That makes coaching enjoyable and I feel we are in the process of building a culture and getting a new system in place on the offensive and defensive side of the ball.”
Leading the way is senior post Lauren Palagyi, the team’s lone returning starter. At 5-foot-10, Palagyi will anchor the interior and serve as both a leader and a steady presence on the court.
“Lauren has really good length and athleticism to go with strong leadership qualities,” Force said. “That, along with her experience on the varsity court, will make her a key part of our team this year. She is excited to take steps forward this year as a senior on the offensive and defensive end.”
Junior guard Anna Dumstorff also returns with valuable varsity experience and is expected to take on an expanded role in the backcourt.
“Anna can do a lot of things well,” Force said. “She is a good ball handler, passer, slasher, shooter, strong defender; she just brings a lot of ability to the floor for us, and she got some quality varsity experience last year. I think she has positioned herself well to take a jump this season as far as her role and her ability.”
Other projected starters include junior wing Karli DiFranco, freshman guard Gabby D’Amato, and sophomore wing Kylie Sayle.
DiFranco, a 5-foot-6 junior, brings defensive intensity and improved shooting.
“Karli has good length and athleticism on the wing and is one of our better perimeter defenders. She has worked on her shot a bit and should be able to provide some offense and leadership to a young group that needs upperclassmen to look toward.”
D’Amato, a 5-foot-2 freshman, will get the chance to make an early impact.
“Gabby is a competitive, athletic, young guard who is going to have an opportunity to get major minutes for us this year,” Force said. “She is a strong defender, ball handler, passer, and can score in multiple ways. The biggest challenge for her will be learning and leading a new system. I am excited to help and watch her grow this year and over the next four years with us.”
Sayle, a 5-foot-7 sophomore, adds athleticism and versatility.
“Kylie is an outstanding athlete,” Force said. “She brings excellent conditioning, good speed and length, and strong defense to the court. She has worked on her ability to knock down the outside shot and get to the basket a bit. I think she will have a nice on-court role this year as a sophomore.”
Kirtland’s depth will be strengthened by freshman guard Alivia Mason, sophomore post Josie Burich, and two seniors returning to the game — Payton Sanzo and Silvia Ingram — both of whom provide leadership and athleticism.
Mason, a 5-foot-2 guard, has the potential to contribute early.
“Alivia is a young guard who can handle the ball and score a bit from the perimeter,” Force said. “She is developing her game as far as defense and getting to the basket. We really feel as she gets accustomed to the speed and skill level of the varsity game, she will be able to be a contributor as a freshman for us this season.”
Burich, a 5-foot-8 post, brings toughness and unselfishness.
“Josie is the kind of girl you want on your team,” Force said. “She’s a great teammate, has a high commitment level, and she is coachable and unselfish. I really expect her to make strides this year and bring some on-court toughness and rebounding to the floor. She has worked hard these first couple of weeks on adding to her offensive game, and I am excited to see the kind of player she can become over the next three years.”
Sanzo, a 5-foot-5 guard, returns to the hardwood for the first time since middle school.
“Payton hasn’t played basketball at Kirtland since middle school, but she is a great leader and has good athleticism,” Force said. “We feel she can give solid minutes on the perimeter and bring some on-ball defensive pressure to the floor when we need it.”
Ingram, a 5-foot-8 post, also rejoins the sport after several years away.
“Silvia also hasn’t played basketball at Kirtland since middle school, but she brings length, athleticism, and energy to the court,” Force said. “We see her as being able to score a bit inside and to be a rim-protector and rebounder for us. Her energy and leadership have been great thus far in the early part of the season.”
Junior Katherine Bradshaw and underclassmen Ava Kostelnik, Payton Adkins, and Elliana Allen could also work their way into varsity roles as the season progresses.
Force understands that building chemistry, confidence, and identity will take time, but he’s emphasizing five key traits to shape the team’s foundation: Trust, Love, Strength, Togetherness, and Enthusiasm.
“We have a great coaching staff, some strong upperclassmen leadership, and a great group of girls who are willing to work hard to progress,” Force said. “We are going to fall back on our five key characteristics…and I will be preaching playing hard and loving each other as well as ‘being where our feet are,’ meaning focusing on our process and the day-to-day grind of getting closer as a team and improving ourselves individually to be the best we can be for the team.”
For Kirtland, success this season will be measured not just in wins and losses, but in growth and culture.
“We just want to establish our identity with a positive team culture and being a high-energy team that prepares and competes hard,” Force said. “We are going to approach every game like it’s the most important one on our schedule as far as preparation, energy, and execution.”
As the Hornets take flight under their new leader, the formula for success is simple but demanding.
“We need to take care of the ball, rebound, and be able to defend consistently to compete in a tough division of the CVC this year with some really good teams and established coaches,” Force said.
