Grizzly Women's Basketball Picked to Finish 4th in KJCCC Preseason Poll

COLBY, Kan. – The Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Division 1 women's basketball preseason poll has been released, and the Grizzlies have been picked to finish fourth ahead of the 2025-26 season.

Butler was picked to finish fourth out of the 13-team conference. Dodge City, the reigning Region 6 and KJCCC champions, have been picked to finish first. Hutchinson and Coffeyville follow in second and third place respectivley. 

Last season, the Grizzlies finished in fourth place in the final Jayhawk Conference standings, boasting a 23-8 record (17-7 in conference play) and a Region 6 Semifinal berth, falling to eventual conference tournament champion Dodge City 67-58. 

Grizzlies head coach Mike Helmer will begin his 18th and final season at the helm of the program, as he began Director of Athletics duty back in July. 

Butler brings back six returners, including last year's KJCCC Freshman of the Year Ashley Singhateh. The Grizzlies are also bringing in six newcomers, including two transfers. Elina Syniakova, transfer from Division 1 program Lousiana Tech and Ilke Zorlukaya, transfer from LSU Eunice. 

The Grizzlies open their regular season on the road at Northern Oklahoma-Tonkawa on Nov. 1 at 1 p.m.

Click here to read the full release from the KJCCC.

KJCCC D1 Women's Basketball Predicted Order of Finish (First Place Votes)

1) Dodge City (3)

2) Hutchinson (3)

3) Coffeyville (3)

4) Butler (2)

5) Garden City (1)

6) Cowley (1)

7) Seward County

8) Barton

T9) Cloud County

T9) Colby

11) Independence

12) Pratt

13) Fort Hays Tech NW