Women's Basketball Ready For New Challenges
The 2025-2026 season will begin the Kelly Koetters era as she takes over the John Wood Women's Basketball team that begins a rebuild. Coach Koetters is however no stranger to the Lady Blazers program, as she played and coached under former Lady Blazer Head Coach Norman Rodriguez.
The Lady Blazers will look to find their groove early as their schedule is loaded with tough opponents early and several big road games. John Wood will open their season on Friday November 7th when they travel to Trenton, MO to participate in the North Central Missouri College Classic. Their first game of the season will be at 7:30pm against the host Lady Pirates of NCMC, who are coming off a national tournament run the season prior. They will face rival St. Louis CC on Saturday November 8th at 12:00pm to conclude their first road trip of the season.
Tuesday November 11th will begin the 2025-2026 home schedule for the Lady Blazers as the welcome the reserve squad from Culver Stockton College. That game will tipoff at 5:30pm and will be the lone game that day. The Blazers' next several games will be tough as they host Moberly Area CC on Friday November 14th 5:30pm and Southeastern CC on Sunday November 16th at 1:00pm as part of the Town and Country Inn and Suites Classic. Moberly Area CC will take on Southeastern CC on Saturday November 15th at 1:00pm as part of the Town and Country Inn and Suites Classic.
John Wood will then travel to Jacksonville, Illinois on Wednesday the 19th to take the Varsity Reserve squad of Illinois College at 8:00pm. Following that, John Wood will welcome NCMC for a 2:00pm contest on Saturday November 22nd.
Carl Sandburg will make their yearly trip to John Wood on Tuesday November 25th for a 5:30pm contest. John Wood will return the favor and travel to Galesburg, IL on Wednesday December 3rd to take on Carl Sandburg for a 5:30pm contest.
Friday December 5th and 6th will see tough NJCAA Division 1 teams travel to the Student Activity Center with Neosho CC, Kansas City Kansas CC, and Olive Harvey CC. John Wood will play Neosho CC at 7:30pm on the 5th and Kansas City Kansas CC at 3:00pm on the 6th. Jefferson College will come to town on Thursday December 11th for the first doubleheader of the season as the Lady Blazers will play at 5:30pm and the Blazers will play at 7:30pm.
John Wood will return the favor and travel to Kansas City Kansas CC on Monday December 15th for a 5:30pm contest, to end their first semester of games.
The Lady Blazers will open their second semester and conference play on Saturday January 3rd, when they make their yearly I72 trip to Lincoln Land CC for a 1:00pm contest. Their next contest will be Wednesday the 7th when they travel to Spoon River CC for a 5:30pm contest.
John Wood will welcome Lewis and Clark CC to the Student Activity Center on Saturday January 10th for a 1:00pm contest. That game will also be the annual Alumni Day for both Men's and Women's Basketball. Their next contest will be on Wednesday the 14th at Kaskaskia CC for a 5:30pm contest.
The next three games will be at home as John Wood welcomes Danville Area CC on the 17th, Illinois Central College on the 21st, and Lake Land College on the 24th. They will travel to Parkland College on the 28th for a 5:30pm contest and then welcome Lincoln Land CC to town on the 31st.
Wednesday February 4th will see Spoon River come to town for 5:30pm and then John Wood will travel to Lewis and Clark CC on the 7th for a 1:00pm contest.
Kaskaskia CC will make their trip to town on Wednesday the 11th for a 5:30pm contest, and then John Wood will travel to Danville Area CC on the 14th for a 1:00pm game. John Wood will travel next to Lake Land College in Mattoon, IL on Saturday the 21st for a 1:00pm game, and then Illinois Central College on the Wednesday the 25th for a 5:30pm contest.
John Wood will conclude their season at home on Saturday February 28th with a 1:00pm contest against Parkland College. That will also be Sophomore Day for the Lady Blazers and Blazers.
Post season play will begin on Wednesday March 4th at a site and time to be determined.