Northern Star: Kloe Zentkowski and Eva Peterson
Spartans' duo both named to Lake Superior All-Conference Team
SUPERIOR, Wis.- The Superior girls basketball team know they have two giant holes to fill next season with Kloe Zentkowski and Eva Peterson graduating in May.
It’s now been over one month since Superior had their season come to an end in WIAA Regionals on their home court. Since then, Zentkowski and Peterson have gained some perspective on their last go around as Spartans.
“We had a brand new coaching staff, so it was all new.” Says Zentkowski. “I felt like we adapted to it pretty well. So, it was exciting.”
“Looking back at it, of course it didn’t end the way we wanted it to,” Peterson admits. “But, you know, you want to always look at the positive side of things. And I think we had a lot of success throughout our four years here. And it’s been nice to take that step back.”
Zentkowski and Peterson first made their impact on the varsity squad as a feisty freshman duo in supporting roles. In their final two years with Superior, both were able to blossom into Spartan stars.
“I mean, she’s an amazing shooter,” Zentkowski says of Peterson. “Every time she shoots the ball, I’m like, ‘Yep, I can see that’s going in, let’s go!’ And she’s really competitive. She makes everyone around her better. At practice, we would most of the time end up guarding each other. And that’s what you want. Like, I would always want to be faced up against her because I know she’s going to make me better and make me work harder.”
Meanwhile, Peterson also had plenty of compliments to give to her longtime teammate. “The team chemistry that she brings, just with her ability to pass and create for other people. Like, I look back and I’m like, so lucky to have (Kloe) as a teammate. We’ve always worked super well together. We’re complete opposites, but we mesh together so well. That’s the best way to describe it, I think.”
Even with their sights now set on college, Zentkowski and Peterson know their individual accomplishments wouldn’t have been possible without working together as a tandem.
“Back in sixth grade, we’ve been playing with each other since then,” says Peterson. “So, there are just so many memories. I can’t even look back at it at all.”
“It’s just really cool to have someone by your side the whole time,” says Zentkowski. “We’ve been through so many things together. It’s really been cool and exciting.”
While Zentkowski and Peterson will no longer share the same court, both will continue their playing careers. Zentkowski is set to play at Michigan Tech while Peterson will suit up for Grand View in Des Moines, Iowa.
