BOLD is young, but looking good

Two key starters return from a team that went 20-9 last season

BY MICHAEL LYNE | West Central Tribune

OLIVIA — BOLD enters its 202223 campaign with youthfulness and two key returners that will look to help the Warriors build on their 20-9 overall record and 7-5 West Central Conference mark from the 2021-22 season.

“We will be a young team this year with a few guys getting their first shot at big varsity minutes,” BOLD head coach Jake Brustuen said. “But we bring back our leading scorer and rebounder as well as our starting point guard from last season.”

The two key returners to lead the way are senior forward Ryan King and sophomore guard Jack Gross. Both are listed at 6-feet-3.

BOLD junior Ryan King (5) goes up for a layup attempt while Morris/CA’s Jackson Loge (22) goes for a block during the first half of a West Central Conference game Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021, at Bird Island.

Joe Brown / West Central Tribune

King is fresh off a ‘21-22 season as an All-West Central Conference member. He averaged 18 points and 7 rebounds per game in his junior season. Gross is coming off an AllWest Central honorable mention. He averaged 8 points, 4 assists, 4.8 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 1.2 steals per game.

At the helm for his sixth season at BOLD, Brustuen also mentioned sophomore forward Will Penkert, junior forward Andrew Meyers and senior forward Braden Gass as players to watch.

“We have four players (who) saw varsity action last season back in the rotation and looking to take the next step in the program,” Brustuen said. 2021-22 season. Before that, however, BOLD went 27-2 in ‘201920, 22-4 in 2018-19 and 22-7 in 2017-18. This season holds a similar promise. ◀