BY CHRIS MANNINGNorthern Tier Sports Report
Playing sports tends to be a generational pastime for many families, and that’s no different than three girls’ hoopers who have been shining on the high school stage for the past few seasons. Canton’s Cailyn VanNoy, Troy’s Giana Renzi, and Waverly’s Ryleigh Judson have all starred in one way or another for their teams, following in their father’s footsteps from 30 years ago.
At Troy in the late 80’s through mid-90’s Steve Renzi, Lou Judson, and Ryan VanNoy all contributed to one of the most successful runs in NTL boys’ hoops history. Now they get to watch their daughters etch their own legacies.
“Watching Gi start on two straight NTL Championship teams has been so much fun,” Steve remarked. “I am so proud of her, and the amount of work she has put in and prepared to succeed.”
Giani has been having success at the same position as her father - point guard.
“I love playing point guard, and I love leading my teammates,” she said. “My dad taught me how to play the position. I think it is cool how we both play the same position, and I look up to his success. I enjoy making plays and dishing assists to my teammates as point guard, while also getting to set up my shot.”
North of the Border Ryleigh has been with the varsity since junior high, and has been a double-digit scorer for the Wolverines the past two years.
“Ryleigh is a naturally gifted athlete who picks up things very quickly,” Lou said. “She has had a lot of success in basketball an early age - just recently being chosen to the All-State Third team as a sophomore. We are very proud of her, she has become a very well-rounded young lady who has a bright future.”
Ryleigh has the luxury of having two parents who were excellent ball players, with Lou and Jennifer (Nichols) Judson.
“I think it’s pretty cool listening to all of the stuff both of my parents have accomplished,” she said. “I have a lot to look up to with both my parents. My dad was very successful, and hard working in a lot of things he did. I have a lot to live up to, but I love the challenge.”
Down in Canton Cailyn and Ryan have helped turn the Warriors’ program around, having recently made the state playoffs for the first time since 2002.
Cailyn took over the point guard position as a freshman, and has turned into one of the best all-around players in the league.
“Taking over point guard was definitely a challenge at first,” she said. “They have to handle pressure, know the plays, and be a team leader. I like having the ball in my hands to create scoring opportunities for myself, and my teammates. I love passing the ball, and seeing my teammates score.”
This is Ryan’s second stint as the girls’ head coach at Canton, and he’s enjoyed every minute of it, while he’s also enjoyed just being in the stands during her travel season.
“It has been extremely rewarding to watch,” he said. “Many hours have been spent with just the two of us in the gym. To see the hard work pay off for her is great to see. She just finished her travel season with the Aces out of Williamsport, and it was extremely rewarding for me. I’ve been her coach since kindergarten, and for the first time I’ve been able to go watch her play, and be dad, instead of yelling a defense, or thinking about adjustments. I’ve truly enjoyed being the dad with the phone recording his daughter’s game. I’ve been able to see more clearly the joy the game gives her, and it has been fantastic.”
Once upon a time all three girls were in Troy School District.
“I was an assistant for Troy boys, and in the gym one day were Ryleigh Judson, Raelynn Woodward, and Giana and Izzy,” explained Steve. “I said, ‘someday, Troy is going to have a great team.’ Well, it got broken up, but they are all doing well. I’ve asked Ryan a million times to move back to Troy so the girls can play together - he said no, of course, but he still could.”
Both Ryleigh and Cailyn began their hoops careers very early. Ryleigh came her father’s practices when he coached the boys team at Waverly when she was 3-years old, a rite of passage for all her siblings.
“I have been around basketball my whole life, and have always loved the sport,” Ryleigh said. “Stepping into varsity as an 8th grader was a great experience. I learned a lot of different things from my teammates and coaches, but it feels like have been on the team forever, and look forward to the rest of my career.”
Lou recalls when her knew she was going to be special.
“A few years back she had a very good week at Waverly Basketball Camp, and won every individual award - Hot Shot, 1-on-1, MVP, and a few other awards - and that’s when I realized she was going to be quite a special player,” he said.
Ryleigh also credits growing up in a competitive family for her success, as well.
“My whole family coming to the gym, and playing against each other; it’s get very serious and sometimes people get hurt,” she said.
“We are all very competitive, but we all show it in different ways,” added Lou. “Things get pretty heated in our house when it comes to playing 1-on-1 or shooting competitions. Jen and I are very lucky to have kids who work hard, and enjoy competing.”
Ryleigh also isn’t afraid to pick her parent’s brains, either, since they both have a wealth of knowledge.
“It’s very helpful because they can help me with anything I struggle with,” she said.
Cailyn also went to her dad’s practices a decade ago.
“I grew up around basketball, and watching older players,” she said. “I started falling in love with basketball when I saw other people’s passion and dedication towards the sport. It inspired me to work hard, and achieve my goals.”
She enjoys being able to lace them up with her father.
“My dad and I play together as often as we can,” said Cailyn. “On Monday nights we play at a church and scrimmage other men. Generally we are on the same team, but sometimes they mix it up. I love playing with my dad, and I think he likes playing with me, too.”
Ryan knew a few years ago in a game of 2-on-2 when Cailyn would be good.
“Cailyn and I were working out in the gym, and two young men in their early 20’s came in the gym and started shooting,” he explained. “We had a few minutes left before we had to leave, and I asked Cailyn if she wanted to ask them to play 2-on-2. She was hesitant at first, and I said you’ll be fine, and she agreed. I asked the men to play, and they said yes. Cailyn Went off and we beat them 10-2 or something close to that. I’ll never forget the disbelief on their faces as we walked out of the gym with the W.”
Her dad hasn’t just been a mentor, but also a role medal for Cailyn.
“My dad’s success over the years has inspired me to work hard in the weight room, and on the court,” she said. “He always wants the best for me and my teammates, and pushes us to our full potential. If there is anyone who wants to be success it is m y dad, which is why he makes such a great coach.”
And she’s hoping they can repeat last year’s success, or even do a little better, like capture the NTL title.
“It would be awesome if we could compete for a league title, place in districts, and make the state tournament again,” Cailyn said.
While they lose 1,000-point scorer Kendall Kitchen, Cailyn will get to play with her sister Brenna this year.
“I’m excited for this upcoming season with Brenna,” she said. “She has been working very hard, and should see some varsity minutes. It will be a lot of fun playing with her for the next two years.”
As for Ryan, he knows time is flying by as Cailyn’s coach.
“I’ve heard from many coaches before that coaching their kid was one of the best times of their lives,” he said. “When you coach your kids you’re fortunate to spend a lot of extra time with them, and their friends. I always try to keep things in perspective, and I know I’ll only coach Cailyn for two more basketball seasons. We’re been very fortunate to have success these past few years, we’ve made some great memories and hopefully we can continue that again these next few years.”
Giana tagged along to practices at a young age, too, beginning around 5-years old.
“I was always in the gym from that point on because my dad became the head coach years later,” she said. “Basketball is a huge part of my life, and I work so hard at it, and have so much fun playing it. My dad and I play basketball all the time. We have a half court at our house, so we always get workouts in and sometimes he will jump in and show me how to do something. Basketball is definitely a huge part of my life, and I just love it.”
Steve remembers that it was around sixth grade when things really got rolling with Giana.
“I told all my kids they have to ask me to go out and play a sport,” he said. “It didn’t matter what it was. Her first love was was soccer, and we traveled everywhere for it. She really started to love basketball around sixth grade, and asked me all the time to go out and learn something. She is highly competitive, and always wanted to play 1-on-1 with me - she even said she won when she was in 7th grade, with a lot of smack talking the day after. She always adapted quickly to playing with older girls or boys, she wants to learn every aspect of the game, and it’s been so much fun helping her, her brother, and her sister through this journey.”
For Giana, those games with her dad mean a lot to her.
“Some of the best memories playing with my dad would have been when we scrimmage at home, and I find myself realizing that the still knows how to play,” she said. “I also love when he takes time out of his very busy schedule to do workouts with me, and rebound for me.”
It’ll be a much different team this coming year for Giana as they say good-bye to seven seniors who have been the backbone of the last two years. Giana will have her father as coach, while sister Izzy joins the squad.
“I am beyond excited to play with my sister, Izzy, this year,” Giana said. “She is my best friend, and my built-in-teammate. We know how to read each other really well, and I enjoy playing with her. She is a tough player, and will be a great addition to our team this year.”
They’ve been doing a lot of hooping over the summer with summer league, open gyms, and AAUs, not to mention lifting.
“I am very excited to have my dad as a coach,” Giana said. “He has always been like a coach to me outside when I practice basketball and growing up.”
Steve is excited to get going this winter, saying it’s an honor to be the girls’ coach.
“They are a great group of young ladies and work extremely hard,” he said. “Izzy and Giana’s relationship as best friends can be seen when they play together, and their bond has grown even more because of basketball. The privilege of being their dad, and now coach, is an experience I will cherish for the rest of my life.”
Despite growing up in different school districts the three players have met up along the way.
“I played with Giana and Cailyn on a travel team, and have played with them at camps,” Ryleigh said. “They are fun to play with, they both know the game very well, and understand it. They are both very good defenders - they are the last people I want playing defense on me. They get that from their dads.”
The three of them also took the Waverly Basketball Camp by storm one summer.
“One of my best memories with Giana and Ryleigh was our first year in the WNBA at Waverly Camp,” explained Cailyn. “We were all moved up as 8th graders, and got put on the same team. We ended up winning the championship in the high school division.”
The three of have become friends off the court as they star on it.
“I enjoy competing against them,” Giana remarked. “I think it’s really cool how our dads all once played at Troy, and had a lot of success.”
It’s been quite a journey for their dads, as well.
“It’s pretty special that Steve, Ryan, and I all played at Troy, and were quite successful basketball players, and now our daughters are all excelling and doing great things,” Lou said. “It’s ironic that we all stayed local and became coaches. Our daughters will be juniors this upcoming season, and have proven to be some of the best guards in the area.”
“I tell people all the time the most amazing thing this game provides is the relationships you build as a result of being around it,” added Ryan. “Steve, Juddy, and I were fortunate to have a lot of success in high school, which has added a uniqueness to our relationships because we were part of a strong basketball tradition. Now, years later, having our daughters experience similar successes adds to that bond.”
Steve sees the girls as chips off the old block.
“It’s awesome to see Troy alumni and their kids succeed,” he said. “Fierce competitors and leaders, and that’s what their kids are, as well.”
