Love Of Basketball Drives Wemhoff Family

Basketball has been a huge part of Baylee and Allyson Wemhoff’s lives for as long as they can remember.

Their parents, Greg and Joyce, a former basketball player for Northeast in Norfolk, coached varsity basketball together at Anselmo-Merna for five years. Greg recalled the first time he saw Baylee walk was on the gym floor one day at practice. 

Greg then coached girls basketball in Battle Creek for 10 years before the family moved to Elgin. He remembered the girls being with him at every practice and behind the bench at every game. When Baylee and Allyson were old enough, they began playing club basketball, coached by none other than their father. 

“When second and third grade came, we got them playing club ball and coached them all the way up. It was fun,” said Joyce.

“I coached both of them all the way through eighth grade,” Greg recalled.

Baylee, a senior, is currently averaging 7.8 points per game and 4.5 assists per game for the undefeated Wolfpack while Allyson, a sophomore, is leading the way with 11.5 points per game and 2.8 assists per game. While being leaders on an unbeaten team certainly adds to the enjoyment of the game, the Wemhoffs truly just love the game.

“I’ve been through basketball since I was a little girl, and I’ve just enjoyed playing the sport,” said Baylee. “I really do truly love the sport. They (Greg and Joyce) always help strengthen our love for it.”

Growing up, the two girls would continually push each other playing one-on-one. As a family, they would often go to the gym and shoot around. Basketball simply became a past time for the Wemhoffs. 

It is obvious that after playing together so much, the two girls have a strong connection on the court. It is evident to any fan watching that one is always well aware of what the other is doing. That connection helped the Wolfpack finish last year 19-8 and has helped the team to a 6-0 start this year.

“I think we have really good chemistry with each other.  We just know where each other is usually because we grew up together and we know that the chemistry is there,” Allyson said.

“Sometimes we get frustrated with each other. I think I’m usually the one that gets after her the most,” admitted Baylee. “That’s just part of that big sister thing.”

Once the game is over, the two simply work toward getting better while Greg and Joyce take the opportunity to give them advice.

“We just try to keep them positive and keep them up and loving the game,” said Joyce. “We’re enjoying every game and the last game they play is going to be very hard.”

Baylee will graduate this May and look toward college. While she is still undecided on what her future holds and whether basketball will be a part of it, she plans to make sure that she is there still for her sister.

Allyson, on the other hand, has a few years before she has to make that decision and for now, she is simply just enjoying the ride.

Both the Wemhoffs and fans of Elgin Public/Pope John hope that ride ends with a state championship for the first time in Wolfpack history.

​With the Wemhoffs in control of the high-powered offense, the Wolfpack should have much to celebrate by season’s end.