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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, April 11, 2002

Three players leaving Wahine basketball team

By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Staff Writer

Three University of Hawai'i Wahine basketball players will not return next season, forcing the program to fill a void already left by two departing seniors.

Chelsea Wagner is leaving the team to be closer to her family in Oregon.


Christina Brossman was unhappy with her performance last season.


Sarijana Sijercic is planning to move to the East Coast to be closer to her husband who is serving in the military.
Freshman guard Chelsea Wagner, sophomore guard Christa Brossman and junior center Arijana Sijercic are leaving the team, though their decisions have nothing to do with any dissatisfaction with the program or its coaching staff, according to Wagner and other players.

Wagner, who started 14 of 29 games, said she will be going back to Springfield, Ore., to be closer to her family after her best friend died of cancer in February.

"This was the best and worst year of my life," said Wagner, who keeps a small glass container of her friend's ashes with her. "I went through a lot this year, and I overcame a lot. I love it here, I love my teammates so much. They helped me get through everything. But I made my decision that I just needed to be home. I need the security of my family right now."

The 5-foot-11 freshman, who averaged 8.6 points per game, said she will play for the University of Oregon next season.

"It was the hardest decision I had to make," Wagner said. "I respect (UH head coach) Vince Goo so much. It's so hard for me to leave. But this is something I have to do for myself. Obviously, I will overcome and move on."

According to teammates, Brossman was unhappy with her performance last season. In 31 games, the 5-foot-10 sophomore from Pullman, Wash. averaged only 3.1 points and 2.0 rebounds per game. She has sent tapes to other programs, teammates said.

Sijercic, a 6-foot-2 reserve from Sarajevo, Bosnia, is planning a move to the East Coast to be closer to her husband who is serving in the military.

Brossman and Sijercic could not be reached for comment.

Goo said the UH athletic department will release official notification of the players' departures in the next couple of days.

"There's nothing definite yet," Goo said.

After posting a 23-7 overall record, the Rainbow Wahine were not invited to the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship Tournament for the fourth consecutive year. They lost to Oregon State in the first round of the Women's National Invitation Tournament in Corvallis, Ore., last month.

Forward Natasja Allen, center Christen Roper and point guard Michelle Gabriel are the only returning seniors to next year's squad. Allen led Hawai'i in scoring last season with 10.4 points per game. Roper led in rebounds, averaging 7.3 per game.

In addition to Wagner, Brossman and Sijercic, the Rainbow Wahine will lose senior starters Janka Gabrielova and Karena Greeny.

Gabrielova was second on the team in scoring, averaging 10.2 points per game. Greeny averaged 9.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.