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When Kennedy Schilling finished her basketball career at Flushing High School, she knew she wanted to find a way to play again. 

“Mainly, the thing for me was I wasn’t really OK never playing basketball again,” Schilling said. “I knew I would miss it.” 

When the two-year varsity player visited Montcalm Community College, she was contacted by Steve Ernst, then-head coach of MCC’s new women’s basketball team and was immediately taken into the idea of attending the community college and playing for its newly formed team. 

“Steve Ernst was a very nice guy and I really liked the school and campus,” Schilling said. “So, I ended up here.” 

She was excited at the idea of being on the basketball court and competing once again. 

That competitive drive runs in her family, as her older brother, Reed, is a basketball player at Adrian College, which he is graduating from this year. Her father, Brian, played basketball, as did her cousin, Courtney Walters, who played NCAA Division I basketball at Oakland University.  

Schilling said she is in constant contact with her brother, who helps her stay motivated and on track with training. 

“We talk to each other a lot,” she said. “He will text me about how I did and I’ll text him about his games.” 

Whenever they can, the brother-sister duo attend each other’s games and, when possible, train together. 

“He always talks me up and tells me how good I can do,” she said. “It’s a confidence boost for me. It’s nice knowing he always has faith in me.” 

Though the Centurions have struggled since winning their first game of the season, going 0-6 afterwards, Schilling has kept her head up and has faith in her new teammates. 

“Coming off that first game and first win, it was really exciting for us,” Schilling said of MCC’s 54-42 win over Cornerstone University (JV) on Nov. 1. “The next couple games we didn’t win and that’s been frustrating, but we also know what we are capable of. Every practice, we’re working hard and I think we can show everyone how good we really are.” 

Adversity is expected with any first-year program, however, with the Centurions playing with only eight players, and suffering injuries to some players, Schilling and her teammates have faced a much more challenging task than expected. But Schilling knows the potential the Centurions have. 

“All of us are not selfish, we all have confidence in each other,” she said. “We just need to execute our plays properly. Once we get that, our shots will fall. Once we start getting our shots to fall and plays run, that will give us confidence.” 

Schilling is the team’s level-headed player, which has helped the team through tough times, according to Centurions Head Coach Scott Pedigo. 

“She gives us more of a calming effect,” he said. “She keeps us on an even keel and doesn’t let us stay down. She keeps us composed.” 

Pedigo believes without Schilling, the team would be hit harder with the losses that they have faced. 

“Even when things are going bad, she is always saying, ‘OK, keep focused, keep working,’” he said. “She’s always positive and she’s always helping her teammates not give up or quit.” 

As one of the taller players on the team, at 5 foot, 8 inches, Schilling isn’t afraid to take a shot from the outside, and she isn’t afraid to bang elbows in the paint, either. Rebounding is one area she wants to make the most impact. 

“All my teammates have confidence in me shooting threes,” she said. “But I’m one of the taller girls on the team so I feel like it helps us if I’m in there rebounding.” 

Confidence is never lacking with Schilling, who knows once she gets into a groove in shooting, she can be a great asset to the team. 

“I’m excited about what I can do for the team and what the team can do when we’re all on,” she said. 

Pedigo knows when Schilling is on her game, she can make an impact big enough to carry the team forward. 

“When she gets aggressive, when she shows that, going to the basket, getting that nice shot, sometimes she has those great moments of aggressiveness and it really helps the team,” he said. “That will improve as she moves on.” 

Pedigo said Schilling is building up her speed and is becoming more physical, which the team desperately needs. He believes once Schilling puts those two skills together consistently, she will reach that “next level.” 

“When you go from high school to college, you’re seeing seniors and juniors on the college level and that physicality of the college game is so different than high school,” he said. “Once Kennedy adjusts to that, you will see a lot of growth out of her.” 

While she hones her skills this season, Schilling hopes to develop her game to the point where she is one of the go-to players for the Centurions by next season. 

“This year and next, I hope that I can be one of the players they look to for crucial baskets,” she said. “I hope coach can begin trusting me in those situations.” 

Media inquiries, please contact:

Shelly Springborn
Director of Communications and Public Relations
shellys@montcalm.edu
989-560-0833