View from the cheap seats

A weekly perspective on sports

Casey Krautkramer Reporter The Record-Review

I had an interesting conversation with my insurance agent, Don Spindler of Stratford, last week about who is the best varsity girls basketball player to graduate from Stratford High School.

Don told me current senior Breanna Ackley, who has chosen to play Division 2 college basketball at Winona St., is truly one of the best girls basketball players in Stratford’s history. But, he also believes his daughter, Carrie Spindler, was right up there with Breanna as being the best girls basketball players to play for Stratford.

Carrie was awarded the Marawood Conference South Division Player of the Year in the 2004-05 season. She led the Marawood Conference South Division in scoring that season, by averaging 16.75 points per game for a total of 268 points scored.

Don admitted it looks like he’s being biased, since Carrie’s his daughter, but he truly believes she was one of the best girls basketball players, and possibly even the best ever to play for Stratford. He said if Carrie would’ve been a little taller like Breanna, there’s no doubt in his mind she would’ve had an opportunity to play Division 1 college basketball.

Don definitely knows his basketball, because he retired a few years ago from coaching the Stratford freshman girls basketball team for several years.

A Stratford parent once told me he wanted his daughter to play on the Tigers freshman girls basketball team coached by Don Spindler, because he knew Don would do a great job teaching his daughter the fundamentals of how to properly play the game of basketball.

Carrie Spindler graduated in 2006 from Stratford High School. She then attended the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, where her father attempted to persuade her to try walking on for the Division 1 Gophers women’s basketball team. He told me she decided to focus on her college education instead of sports, which is completely understandable.

Paul Rozak was Carrie’s Stratford varsity girls basketball coach, and he resigned from the position after the 2005-06 season. He worked as Stratford middle/high school principal before retiring. Paul can be seen driving his motorcycle around Stratford, and he’s actively involved in the Stratford Lions Club.

I wish Breanna Ackley, who is the daughter of Shawn and Erin Ackley, the best of luck in her future college women’s basketball playing career for the Winona St. Warriors. Breanna has an older brother, Branden Ackley, who played boys basketball for Stratford High School.

Many student athletes like Breanna, who have the talent and put in the hard work needed to succeed, dream about the day they can play a college sport.