It’s hard to imagine that these three basketball players were all on the same team at one point. Former Watertown-Mayer standouts Claire Killian, Kirstin Klitzke, and Monika Czinano had no shortage of success during their high school careers together in a Royals uniform.
Flash forward to the present, and all the former Watertown-Mayer basketball players have continued their success on the hardwood, but this time on their own.
Once teammates at Watertown-Mayer High School, Claire Killian, Monika Czinano, and Kirstin Klitzke are continuing their success at the collegiate level.
Both Killian and Czinano are currently playing Division I basketball currently. Killian is at the University of Nebraska Omaha, and is off to a great start to her junior season. Czinano is in her second year at the University of Iowa, where she is poised to take a big step forward this season.
Of course you can’t forget about Klitzke, who is playing Division II basketball as part of the Minnesota State Mankato women’s basketball team. Back for her junior season this year, Klitzke will also be looking to take a jump forward this year with the Mavericks.
Claire Killian (University of Nebraska-Omaha)
Killian showed all she could do on the floor during her time at Watertown-Mayer. With her seeing an extended role this year with the Mavericks, Killian is now showing what she can do at the college level.
Through five games this season, Killian is second on the team in scoring, averaging 9.2 points per game. Her shot has been on early, as she is shooting 50 percent from 3-point range this season.
Scoring is the only thing Killian is doing in her third season with the Mavericks. In her most recent game against Morgan State Nov. 17, Killian did it all. She finished with season-highs in points (21), minutes played (34), 3-pointers made (3), and free throws made (6), leading the Mavericks to a 70-64 victory.
Playing far away from her home in Minnesota, getting a chance to see Killian play in person is tough for fans who would like the opportunity. The closest Killian and the Mavericks will get to playing in Minnesota will be a weekend trip to North and South Dakota in early January.
Nebraska-Omaha will take on North Dakota in Grand Forks Thursday, Jan. 9. The Mavericks will go south to take on South Dakota Saturday, Jan. 11 for a game in Vermillion.
Monika Czinano (University of Iowa)
Czinano is in her second season with the Iowa Hawkeyes. After finding herself in an unfamiliar position last year playing limited minutes behind the best player in the country, Czinano is getting her chance to shine in her sophomore season.
With Megan Gustafson now gone for the Hawkeyes, Czinano has become the inside presence for her team now. She’s started all three games for Iowa so far this season, and is averaging 12.7 points per game.
Czinano’s patience has paid off for her in her second season. After working hard and learning from Gustafson last season, she’s off to a fantastic start this year.
Against North Alabama Nov. 14, Czinano scored a career-high 18 points on 9-for-9 shooting, with six rebounds, two assists, and one steal. For the season, Czinano has been red hot, as she’s shooting 84 percent (16-for-19) from the floor.
Catching Czinano in action live or on TV is fairly easy for area fans who want to keep an eye on her. The Hawkeyes are featured regularly on the Big 10 Network, as well as other TV stations, such as Fox Sports 1, EPSN, and others.
The key date for fans who want to stay connected with Czinano is Thursday, Jan. 16. That’s when Czinano will be making her second trip home, as the Hawkeyes come to Williams Arena for a match up with the Gophers.
Kirstin Klitzke (MSU-Mankato)
One of the best players in the area over the past few years is continuing to give opponents fits at the collegiate level. A former standout at W-M, Klitzke has continued to get even better as part of the Minnesota State University women’s basketball team.
Klitzke has started both games for the Mavericks this season and is averaging 12 points per game so far. She opened the season red hot, going 3-for-3 from 3-point range in an 83-57 win for the Mavericks Nov. 14.
Klitzke is the easiest of the three to catch in action as her home games are just a short drive down to Mankato. Klitzke and MSU also make their way to the metro as they’ll take on Concordia-St. Paul Wednesday, Dec. 18.