Shutdown provides first-year challenges for Slagus

By JEREMY SELLEW

jsellew@yourmvi.com

Kaitlyn Slagus was so close to experiencing her first game on the sidelines as head coach of her alma mater.

Then it was taken away. Hopefully, though, it’s just temporary.

The Belle Vernon Area girls basketball alum was just over 24 hours away from coaching her first game as the Leopards’ head coach when she got the news everything had been shut down.

Slagus was disappointed to say the least.

“I was super excited to be coaching the girls that Friday. On Thursday, we had all their gear laid out on their desks and we were about to watch film on McKeesport,” Slagus said. “Then I got the call that everything was shut down. All the excitement was built up, now it’s just on hold. That was tough.”

As disappointed as she was, Slagus knew her players were just as much as she was.

“The girls have been such troopers, though,” Slagus said of her players. “I think they were initially in shock. I know Matt (Humbert) was still trying to get us the game, but it didn’t work out on McKeesport’s end. After we didn’t see them for a few days, I think it really hit the girls, but then we had our first Zoom workout.”

As much of an adventure that was for Slagus, who admits she wasn’t very fluent in the realm of Zoom, the Leopards get together every day now for at least an hour.

“It was a mess. I’m not a teacher, so I wasn’t quite sure what was going on. I had Zoom on my computer and it was focused on my iPad, I was all over the place,” she said with a laugh. “Now, I’m pretty good at it. It’s great still getting to see the girls and get our workouts in. I think it’s really going to pay off for us once things get started again.”

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