Female Athletes of the Week: Olive Brandt & Kasey Weimer (Week Ending January 7, 2024)

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Olive Brandt

On January 5th, the Lebanon Cedars went on the road and earned a victory over rival Cedar Crest. In the win, guard Olive Brandt scored 8 points, including 7 in the 1st half, as the game’s outcome was still up for grabs. The sophomore has lined up beside Kailah Correa to provide Lebanon with a solid 1-2 punch from its guards, aiding their effort against Crest, resulting in the team’s seventh straight win. For her efforts, Brandt was chosen by the LebCoSports.com voters as a LebCo Female Athlete of the Week.

Since that game, Lebanon has stretched their win streak to ten games as they have improved to 12-2 on the season. Brandt is 2nd on the team in scoring, averaging 10.0 points per game. Over the course of the last three games, she has averaged 12.0 points per game. Through the first eleven games played, Brandt had also led the team in assists (3.6 APG) and steals (2.2 SPG) despite missing a game due to a concussion suffered during the season-opening win against Manheim Central.

When asked about Brandt, Coach Jaime Walborn said, “Olive is emerging as a leader on the floor for the Cedars. She excels at various aspects of the game – she can score, assist, and defend with tenacity.”

Beyond what shows up on the scoresheet, Walborn pointed out what Brandt brings to the locker room, stating, “She does a great job of motivating her teammates and, as a young player, has shown great leadership qualities.”

Her coach’s assessment is not something that is lost on Brandt, as she is quick to point out that she sees her top asset as leading by doing whatever her team needs her to do. She is as hungry as the rest of her teammates in defending the Section 1 Championship and challenging for the Lancaster Lebanon League Championship again this year before trying to push as deep into the postseason as possible.

In the long term, Brandt would like to continue her growth as a player, eventually being able to join teammate Kailah Correa on the 1,000-point scorer banner in Lebanon High’s gymnasium. If she can accomplish that feat, she will join the same club that her grandfather, Tom Brandt, joined in 1971 before playing baseball at the University of Pennsylvania.

Her grandfather is not the only influence on her athletic career, which also includes soccer. Her father, Mark Brandt, was a key member of the 1999 Annville-Cleona State Championship Team, providing clutch free throw shooting in the quarterfinals against Reading Central Catholic. Her mother also played collegiate field hockey, while her older brother, Noah, is a junior on the baseball team in Lebanon.

Brandt’s own experience has led her to find that grabbing a nap is a valuable part of her pre-game ritual. So far, it’s working well, as the Cedars are once again on track for a long postseason run.

We wish Olive and her teammates the best of luck for the rest of the season.

Photos were provided by Eagle Eyed Imagery, visit their Facebook page to learn more.

Also, be sure to check out their recent Lebanon Girls Basketball hype video.

Kasey Weimer

Last week, Northern Lebanon went 2-0 to improve to 11-1 on the season. In those victories, sophomore Kasey Weimer played a pivotal role, including a team-high 16 points in the January 6th road victory over Fleetwood. Overall, her role as one of the leading scorers on the Vikings, one of Lebanon County’s best teams, caught the attention of the LebCoSports.com voters, who selected her as a LebCo Female Athlete of the Week.

This past week, Northern Lebanon went 1-1 with a loss to Lancaster Catholic, followed by a win over Lampeter-Strasburg. Weimer continued to play a prominent role in the offense, leading the team in scoring in both games. Against LS, she stepped up to score 17 points as the Pioneers keyed in on junior Olivia Shutter.
Weimer is one of the four sophomores in the starting line-up for the Vikings, with Shutter being the oldest starter on a roster that does not have any seniors.

While one can hone in on the offensive numbers from this team, the defense may be the most impressive facet of their game. Weimer prides herself on this part of her game and identifies it as something she wants to work on the most. This is something that is reinforced at home, as her mother helped lead her high school team to the District Finals, playing with “defensive energy and offensive versatility,” as Weimer described it.

The “energy” factor is how Weimer sees herself as contributing to the team the most. Weimer told LebCoSports.com that she is “willing to do any sort of dirty work for the team if needed.” This intangible does not show up on the stat sheet but ultimately results in wins. So far this season, Northern Lebanon is winning a large majority of its games, with each player fulfilling her role in the process.

The team aspect is not exclusive to basketball for Weimer, as “KK” is a member of the Northern Lebanon Field Hockey team. Weimer was named as a 2nd Team All-Star for her efforts during the Fall season.

Ultimately, Weimer would like to put herself in a position to continue playing basketball in college. However, in terms of short-term goals, she is hopeful she can help her team to make a postseason run. When it comes down to it, Weimer said, “I work very hard for my team and give my all. This team is my everything, and my teammates deserve nothing short of my best.”

We wish Weimer the best in helping her team achieve their goals as they grow together, knowing that this year’s result will lay a foundation for next season.

Photo Credit: Carter Kubica

Male winners will be announced shortly

For a full list of this week’s nominees, check out: Athlete of the Week Voting: January 2 – January 7

Previous Winners

Kenzie Eckhart (Week of 12/4)

Laci Lesher (Week of 12/4)

Morgan Kline (Week of 12/11)

Mya Doster (Week of 12/11)

Kailah Correa (Holiday Weeks)

Kylee Trostle (Holiday Weeks)