Not long after the door closed on the season, the Lady Spartans garnered honors as the WaMaC Conference announced its All-Division Girls Basketball honorees for the 2021-2022 season.
Solon sophomore Callie Levin is the East Division Player of the year for the second consecutive year and a unanimous First Team selection. She played in all 23 games for the Lady Spartans racking up a commanding 483 points (averaging 21 points per game) for the season while grabbing 86 rebounds; 96 assists, 4.2 per game; 100 steals, 4.3 per game; and blocked ten shots. Levin led the team in points, assists, steals and blocks.
Seniors MaKinley Levin and Kaia Holtkamp received Second Team recognition. MaK, Callie’s older sister, played in 22 games scoring 189 points (8.6 ppg), grabbed 74 from the boards (3.4), recorded 27 assists and 32 steals while also blocking seven shots. Holtkamp, ranked second on the team in scoring, accrued 201 points (8.7 ppg), grabbed 86 rebounds, earned 30 assists and stole the ball 26 times.
Seniors Elly Holubar and Ava Stebral earned Honorable Mention. Holubar earned her 500th career rebound earlier in the season while amassing 159 rebounds this season playing in all 23 games, an average of 6.9 per game, to lead the Lady Spartans battling under the boards. She was also responsible for 84 total points for the season, amassing 17 assists and 16 steals. Stebral set her own record this season, dropping the most three pointers in a game, while scoring 170 points (7.4 ppg), grabbing 51 rebounds, accruing 33 assists, 26 steals and blocking five shots.
The Lady Spartans (15-8, 11-5) ended the season second in the WaMaC East Standings behind Marion (13-10, 12-5) besting Mount Vernon (12-11, 8-8), Maquoketa (10-13, 7-10), West Delaware (10-13, 5-12) and Beckman Catholic (7-16, 4-13).
On Aug. 2, 2021, Callie Levin announced via Twitter, “Hey Hawkeye Nation… I’m staying home,” indicating she is continuing her academic and athletic career at the University of Iowa, following her parents’ footsteps, and thanking Coach Lisa Bluder for “taking a chance on me,” and thanking all her coaches since second grade.
Shortly after the Lady Spartans departed the postseason, following a heart breaking 59-52 loss to the Benton Bobcats on Saturday, Feb. 19, in the Class 4A Region 4 Semifinal, Holubar took to Twitter Tuesday, Feb. 21, to announce, “I will be continuing by academic and athletic career at St. Ambrose University.”
Her post acknowledged her coaches and teammates while leaving a bit of advice for the future #40.
“To the next girl to put on my #40 jersey, wear it with pride. You are part of something much more than a game.”
Holtkamp took to Twitter Wednesday, Feb. 23, following the WaMaC recognition, to announce her commitment to Iowa State University to continue her academic career and her Track and Field career.
WaMaC East Division selections:
Player of the year– Callie Levin, Soph., Solon.
First team– *Ella Bockenstedt, Jr., Marion; *Callie Levin, Soph., Solon; *Lauren Osterhaus, Sr., Dyersville Beckman; Ava Attwood, Soph., Marion; Tenley Cavanagh, Sr., Maquoketa; Liz Dougherty, Sr., Mount Vernon; Brooke Krogmann, Fr., West Delaware.
Second team– Ella Koloc, Sr., West Delaware; MaKinley Levin, Sr., Solon; Sade Struchen, Sr., Marion; Jackie Miller, Sr., Maquoketa; McKenzie Rentschler, Sr., Mount Vernon; Peyton Simpson, Soph., Mount Vernon; Kaia Holtkamp, Sr., Solon.
Honorable mention– Carley Davis, Sr., Maquoketa; CJ Yeager, Sr., Maquoketa; Madison Prier, Sr., Marion; Molly Dunne, Sr., Marion; Lilly See, Jr., Mount Vernon; Kameron Brand, Jr., Mount Vernon; Elly Holubar, Sr., Solon; Ava Stebral, Sr., Solon; Kennedy Klostermann, Jr., West Delaware; Alivia Schulte, Jr., West Delaware.
*– Denotes unanimous selection
Elly Holubar