10/29/2026
Coach Michelle Werschem said it perfectly:
βOur season came to an end in the state semifinal round, and while the outcome wasnβt what we hoped for, I hope these girls take a moment to look back at just how far theyβve come.
At the beginning of this season, their goal was simply to make it to state. That was the dream. And today, they walked off the court as state semifinalists.
Nobody really had us on their radar. There were times we barely cracked the top 20 in the 3A standings. We faced adversity, changes, new challenges, and plenty of moments when things could have gone a different direction. Some girls stepped into new positions. Others had to adjust and learn to do things differently. There were growing pains, frustrations, and days that tested us in more ways than one, but these girls kept showing up. They kept working. They kept fighting for each other. And little by little, they proved that this team was capable of so much more than people expected.
Somewhere along the way, we learned that not every voice deserves our attention, and not every opinion deserves a response. Sometimes you have to learn to quiet the noiseβeven when it comes from people you thought would be the loudest in your corner. You learn to focus on the people standing beside you, the work in front of you, and the reason you started in the first place.
And thatβs exactly what these girls did.
I wish I could put into words how proud I am of them. Proud of their fight. Proud of their growth. Proud of their willingness to step outside their comfort zones. Proud of the way they continued to battle, even when things werenβt easy. They may not have finished the way they wanted today, but they accomplished something that once felt like a dream.
They made it to state. They won their way into the semifinals. They gave this season everything they had, and they did it together.
The scoreboard says our season ended today, but it doesnβt tell the whole story. It doesnβt show the growth, the resilience, the lessons learned, the obstacles overcome, or the memories these girls will carry with them long after this season is over.
Girls, I hope one day you look back on this season and realize just how special it was. I hope you remember that you were capable of more than you knew, that you were stronger than the challenges in front of you, and that other peopleβs expectations never had to define what you could accomplish. You started this season hoping to make it to state. Youβre leaving as semifinalists. Never let anyone convince you that what you accomplished wasnβt something to be proud of.
My heart hurts that itβs over, but it is so incredibly full because I got to be part of this journey with you. You may not have finished with the ending you wanted, but you wrote a season worth remembering.
So proud of our Charleston Lady Tigers. Always.β π―πππ€
