Kaylee Skowronski was a fifth-grader when Round Lake girls basketball coach Molly Hennig first met her.
Skovronsky was a serious man then, Hennig recalls. The 5-foot-10 senior forward remains unchanged.
“She was very serious,” Hennig said. “She was always very serious and took basketball very seriously. Her love for basketball was obvious.”
Skowronski credits her father Martin for her no-nonsense approach to the sport. He played basketball at Grand Valley State.
“It’s mostly thanks to my dad,” Skowronski said. “I grew up watching him basketball. He inspired me. I wanted to be just like my father.
“I wanted to make a commitment just like him, and I felt that if I took it seriously, I could become as great as him. I love my father very much.”
Skowronski's father regularly sends her videos that she finds educational. A particular favorite is the highlights of Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic.
“Luke knows what he’s doing and when to do it,” Skowronski said.
Knowing these things is critical, she says.
“I feel like IQ in basketball is also a very important factor because if you don't understand the sport mentally, you won't be able to perform physically,” she said. “If you make a mistake, you just have to hold your head high and don’t let anything get you down.”
With that mindset, Skowronski was named one of three captains for the Panthers as they look to improve on their 10-23 record last season and become more competitive in the North Lake County Conference.
“I’m honored,” Skowronski said. “Now I have to use that power to show the younger kids what it means to be a varsity player.”
Skovronsky was ready for such responsibility. She watched.
“Even at a younger age, she was trying to understand what some of our older people were doing,” said Round Lake Deputy Jeff Robinson.
Despite this, Hennig discussed leadership with Skowronski over the summer, outlining what could be expected of her. Of course, Skovronsky took this seriously.
“Kaylee is one of the hardest workers in daily training,” Hennig said. “She definitely shines as a vocal leader as well.
“She's made some really good friendships and her leadership in the program has really changed: she was the little girl who respected the older kids. Now the younger kids look up to her.”
The older Skowronski is also noticeably stronger. She started weightlifting midway through her sophomore year. Since then, she has set three team gym records: 125 pounds in the bench press, 130 pounds in the power clean and jerk, and 130 pounds in the clean and jerk.
“I hope to surpass 135 in all three disciplines by the end of my senior year,” she said.
Skowronski's strength training has paid dividends on the court.
“Because of that work, she's really gotten better at rebounding the ball this year,” Hennig said. “We've seen it in her strength in rebounding and in the post against taller opponents. But now she's stronger than them and can get shots to the rim through contact.”
But Skowronski, who averaged 4.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.6 steals last season, has extended her play even further.
“She’s developed into a complete player,” Robinson said. “We used to look at her as a center player, but now she can help in the backcourt.”
Skowronski also plays flag football. Hennig is the coach of the team that debuted last year.
“She convinced me to join,” Skowronski said. “I thought, 'Why not give it a try?'
At first, Skowronski saw flag football as a chance to improve her basketball preparation and have some fun. But she made a big impression. She had 32 catches for 529 yards and six touchdowns last season.
“We were like, 'Wow, we didn't know you were that fast,'” Hennig said. “Sometimes she would just come out of the middle spot and make a big touchdown when we needed it. She went from just being fun to being a viable offensive option.”
Skowronski earned all-conference honors and helped the Panthers win a regional title.
“I really started to enjoy flag football for what it is instead of thinking of it as prep for basketball,” she said.
But it better prepared Skovronsky for basketball. Early in the season, she can focus on smaller details, like free throws.
“These are free points,” she said. “I shouldn't miss them. I've always had some problems with free throws, especially when the game is close.”
“As a player and captain of the team, I have to show that I can easily score points. I try to do something not only for myself, but also to be an example for everyone this year.”
Sam Brief is a freelance reporter.
