University of Wisconsin-Parkside Women’s Basketball coach Jenny Kenesie has announced the signing of two high school seniors who will join the Ranger program in the Fall of 2010.
Jessica Brito (Danville, Ill./Bismarck-Henning HS) and Danielle Slivka (Johnsburg, Ill./Johnsburg HS) both signed National Letters of Intent Wednesday to attend UW-Parkside in 2010.
“I am very excited with the addition of these two young ladies,” said head coach Jenny Kenesie. “They both come from winning programs that compete at a very high level on their high school teams as well as within their AAU programs. Their winning mentality will be invaluable.”
Brito averaged 14.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 3.6 steals last season in leading Coach Mike Stephens’ team to a 28-4 record as the Blue Devils won the Vermilion Valley Conference Championship. For her accomplishments, Brito was named First Team All-Vermilion Conference and All-Vermilion County, as well as second team all-area.
“Jessica is a 1-2 combo guard with a lot of versatility,” said Kenesie. “She is a strong guard who can score multiple ways, as well as having the ability to play the point guard position and run the show. Jessica is a gym rat and lives and breathes basketball, and I am extremely excited to have her part of our program.”
The 5’8” Brito has exhibited her athletic ability on the track as well. She has reached the Illinois State Meet each year of high school culminating in a 3rd place finish in the 300m low hurdles last Spring.
“Jessica is a great athlete who plays very hard on both ends of the floor,” added Kenesie. “She can impact both sides of the floor with her presence and that will be a huge asset to our team.”
Slivka signs with the Rangers coming off a season in which she helped lead Coach Mike Toussaint’s Skyhawks to a 27-8 record and the third Fox Valley Conference Championship of her career.
The 5’9” wing averaged 13 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals last season in which the Skyhawks also won their second straight regional and sectional championship.
“Danielle is a tremendous athlete and her best basketball is ahead of her,” said Kenesie. “With her athleticism she will be able to explode to the basket and be very difficult to guard.”
Slivka was named First Team All-Fox Valley Conference a year ago while being chosen Second Team All-Area by the Northwest Herald. She is also a two-time All-Conference Cross Country runner.
“Danielle is a solid shooter who also plays extremely hard,” added Kenesie. “She will add more depth to our backcourt which will make us a better basketball team. “
The Rangers are coming off the second best season in school history, winning 18 games last year while going 14-4 and finishing in second place in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Eastern Division. This year’s squad features 11 underclassmen yet returns all five starters from a year ago.
“Our program has continued to make tremendous strides in the last eight years and these two young ladies will help us continue to grow as an elite Division II program,” continued Kenesie. “Jessica and Danielle are both great student-athletes and we are very excited to have them a part of our UW-Parkside Women’s Basketball family.”