Photo courtesy of Tarleton Athletics
Katie Webster, a senior forward for the Tarleton State University TexAnns, plans to make her last year of college basketball her best. Webster is from Rockwall, Texas but after high school made her way to division one school, Long Beach State in California for two years. While playing for Long Beach State she appeared in 29 games as a true freshman and 30 as a sophomore starting four of those 30 according to Tarleton Athletics. Webster stated that California was much different than her Texas lifestyle and that is what pushed her to come back.

“Coach Wilson had recruited me out of high school, so I called her when I didn’t like it and she offered me a spot here,” Webster said.

The family environment that the team has is something that Webster loves about being at Tarleton.

“Coach Wilson just coaches the right way and cares about her players not just as players, but off the court as well,” Webster said.

When announcing the addition of Webster to the team last year, coach Misty Wilson described her as the epitome of a TexAnn. 

Wilson stated to Tarleton Athletics that “Katie is the type of student athlete that we actively pursue because she is a great student and a tremendous young lady off the floor.”

In her first season at Tarleton, Katie was named by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) as Honorable Mention All-American and was the Team’s Offensive Player of the Year. She was also the Team’s Iron Texan All Star Award Winner along with being named Lone Star Conference offensive player of the week. Webster started in 32 games for the TexAnns and helped the team advance to the NCAA Regional Tournament. In 23 of the 32 games she played in she had double-digit scoring performances with not only a career, but a team high of 29 points vs. Midwestern State.

Goals for the team are high this year. Webster has hopes for the team winning conference and returning to the NCAA tournament and winning that as well. Personally, Webster is focusing on having a good senior year and having fun.

Webster stated, “obviously winning is fun so that’s our main goal but I just want to enjoy it and enjoy my last of everything.”

Webster did not originally always play basketball. Webster was a softball player first, then after being exposed to it by an older brother she started playing around age eight. She was a standout athlete in both sports through high school lettering in both all four years. When it came to deciding between softball and basketball in college, Webster went with what she thought she would like to practice more and what she would put more effort into.

Basketball has become a passion of Katie’s as her future plans definitely involve always being around and connected with basketball. Becoming a Graduate Assistant for the team next year is one option Katie has looked into. Her long-term goals involve being a high school teacher and coach.

Some might mistake her choice in the number 23 as being for basketball all-star Lebron James, but it is in fact for longtime legend of basketball Michael Jordan.

“I do like the both of them and how they play so confidently,” Webster said.

This is the first year Webster will sport the number 23 as she has previously worn number two and number 12 but decided on her favorite number 23 for her senior year. You won’t catch Webster on the court at practice or during a game without a long sleeve, but as for superstitions that is her only one.

The TexAnns were picked third in the annual Lone Star Conference preseason poll. The team went 20-12 last year in overall play and 12-8 in conference play. Along with Webster the TexAnns are returning all-American honorable mention Mackenzie Hailey and McKinley Bostad who was a third-team all Lone Star Conference. Coach Wilson expressed to Tarleton Athletics that “Talent wise, I think this is the best roster I’ve had as a head coach.”

The TexAnns will open the season with the TexAnn Tip-Off Classic on November 9-10 where they will play Rogers State University and St. Mary’s University in Wisdom Gym in Stephenville, Texas.