Story by Terence Yee
For Kate Spertzel, confidence isn't something that simply comes with experience.
The incoming senior at St. Ignatius has spent years refining her game, but her growth hasn't only been measured by how many shots she makes. It's also been measured by the self-belief she's built through years of hard work and persistence.
She first picked up basketball in third grade, when her father coached her at the YMCA. By fifth and sixth grade, she was becoming more serious about the game. As she became more invested in the sport, she found herself drawn to its combination of speed, scoring and attention to detail.
“It’s really different from soccer and other sports,” she said. “There is a lot of scoring, and I also love the detail along with the fast pace.”
As Spertzel became more serious about basketball, she began working with Kenny Hatch, whom she first met four years ago. The two initially worked together in group sessions before transitioning to one-on-one training.
A 2012 St. Ignatius graduate, Hatch also understands the experience of navigating the school as a student-athlete.
“It’s helpful because [Kenny] knows all of my coaches well,” she said. “He also has a great comeback story, and it’s inspiring to me. He’s always reminding me that there’s always light at the end of the tunnel.”
Spertzel has also continued her development outside of school, playing for the Bay City Girls AAU program for the last two years. Primarily a shooting guard, she has also developed the versatility to play forward.
“Ever since she was younger, she was athletic and taller and developed into an all-around player,” Hatch said. “She isn't afraid to do the less glamorous work—defending, rebounding and hustling.”
At Kenny Hatch Basketball, the focus is on helping players become consistent, disciplined and confident.
“With everybody that comes to train with us, we really try to help them believe in themselves and understand how this works,” Hatch said. “You put the work in first, and then that confidence starts to build over time.”
“Kenny has helped boost my confidence a lot,” Spertzel said. “He's always believed in me, knows how much work I put in, and makes me feel like all the work is paying off. The coaches at Kenny Hatch Basketball always remind me that the work I’m putting in is worth it and help me see the bigger picture.”
That technical work has also helped Spertzel trust her game. Hatch has specifically worked with her on developing her offensive game and becoming a more consistent three-point shooter, emphasizing the mechanics of her shot.
“[Kate] has been one of the most improved players that we’ve ever worked with,” Hatch said. “She’s an incredible shooter. Most of the time, she’ll make the shot. And she’s never going to leave the gym without feeling like she can do this at a high level.”
That belief is part of what Hatch wants to see translate to the court.
“Whether the ball goes in or not, the approach remains the same,” he said. “I want her to shoot and handle the ball with the same level of aggression and confidence.”
Spertzel is entering her third season on the varsity team, and she says she'll play whatever role is best for the team.
“My goal for this year at St. Ignatius is to fulfill whatever role they need me to play,” she said. “Whatever is needed of me, I’ll do to help the team. I think we’re going to be really good this year.”
As Spertzel enters her senior season, the work she's put in has given her something that can't be measured by a shooting percentage: the confidence to trust her preparation, take the next shot and keep moving forward.