Many families have something that defines them or something that brings them together, whether it be a shared tradition, hobby, or interest.

The thing that defines junior Ella Wedin’s family is basketball.

With a last name that has become part of a long legacy in the La Salle girls basketball program, Wedin has labored her way through more than 10 years of practices, workouts, game days, and of course — thousands upon thousands of shots, all while surrounded by and supported by her family.

“It’s definitely like the main topic of most of our conversations, and like all of our lives revolve around [basketball],” Wedin said. “I mean we do other things, but it’s just kind of a way that me and my sisters and my mom and my dad have always been able to connect. It’s always something to talk about in our house.”

Wedin’s basketball career started when she was just 5 years old, when she joined a North Clackamas youth basketball league, called “Hoopers.”

She then became the last of the three Wedin sisters to play basketball, joining older sisters Taycee Wedin ‘18, and Addi Wedin ‘21, who now both play basketball at the collegiate level. “My older sisters played, so I was just always around it,” Wedin said.

Wedin’s current level of dedication to basketball was not reached overnight. Although she had fun with the sport during her young childhood, she said that she didn’t become truly fervent towards it until she was about to start middle school. 

“I always kind of enjoyed it, but I kind of just did it because my whole family did,” she said. “Then I started to get pretty competitive in fourth or fifth grade.”

Wedin continued to play recreational basketball through the North Clackamas School District until her passion for the sport began to take off. When her more serious interest in basketball sprouted, Wedin began playing for a competitive club team.

Now, Wedin is still playing club basketball, and she is currently playing in her third season of high school basketball, for all of which she has been a member of the varsity team. 

The current winter sports season will be the first semi-traditional sports season that Wedin has been part of, as her first two years of high school basketball were largely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

When Wedin was a freshman, the girls basketball team was set to play in the state semifinal game, pining to defend the state title they had won in 2019. However, the sudden closures and cancellations of indoor activities in March of 2020 meant that the girls would not be able to compete in the semifinal game.

This season was also the only season that Wedin would have the opportunity to play on the team with her older sister Addi.

 When Wedin was a sophomore, her older sister suffered from an injury to her ACL, which kept her from playing during her senior year, and although she was still a member of the team, Addi’s absence from the court was a big adjustment for Wedin. “It was really weird last year,” she said. “Freshman year I kind of relied on her for a lot of emotional support when things weren’t going my way. I kind of had to try to figure that out on my own, which was kind of difficult. I definitely miss having her here.” 

The relationship that Wedin has formed with her sisters on and off of the court has been impactful to her life as it has taught her what it means to be a fierce opponent. Growing up, Wedin recalled playing basketball outside with her sisters often, which she remembers being “really competitive.”

Both of Wedin’s parents have had a large impact on her basketball career, but her mom, coach Kelli Wedin, has been a particularly large influence, as she has worked as the head girls basketball coach at La Salle since Wedin was in elementary school. 

The girls’ mom took on the role when the eldest Wedin daughter, Taycee, was about to start high school. This resulted in Taycee’s decision to attend La Salle, and “then we kind of just followed,” Wedin said.

Some students may dream of having their parent be their coach, while for others it may be their worst nightmare. In Wedin’s experience, she said that being coached by her mom has offered just a tiny bit of occasional frustration in exchange for countless positive memories.

“She goes really hard on me because I’m her daughter,” Wedin said. “[But] it’s from a place of love and she sees a lot of potential in me. That’s really the only downside to it. I enjoy playing with her.”

While Wedin’s dad has less direct involvement with her basketball career in comparison to her mom, she said that the support from both of them is noticed and appreciated. “My dad is always filming everything and talking about it,” she said. “Since my mom is kind of more involved in it, I’m always shooting with her in the gym. I’m always working out with her and watching film with her. That’s kind of what our relationship is based around, like we can connect on that.”

Basketball has also had a big impact on Wedin’s social life, both while growing up and currently. The sport allowed Wedin to meet her best friend, Mia Skoro, who is also a member of the varsity girls basketball team. 

“I met her through basketball and we’ve stayed friends for like eight years,” Wedin said. “I have a lot of close friends through basketball. Like Emma [Buchanan] and every other one of my teammates.”

The relationships between Wedin and her teammates have provided her with both lighthearted and impactful memories with other girls in the program. “I think freshman year was a really, really good year,” she said. “I got to play with my sister for the first time and that was really enjoyable. Then last year it was kind of hard because of COVID and stuff, so we all had to push through. It brought our whole team a lot closer, which was hard to experience in the moment but I’m really glad I got to experience that.”

Following a loss of players due to injuries and the coronavirus, when Wedin was a sophomore the team was stretched thinner than they typically would be, forcing Wedin to play more than she was used to. 

Wedin hasn’t suffered any major physical injuries during her time playing basketball, but the mental commitment that the sport demands required Wedin to overcome some psychological challenges. 

As Wedin has continued to grow up and develop into the kind of player and teammate she is, learning lessons about the importance of adversity is something she attributes her gratitude for basketball to. “That’s something that I kind of learned more recently,” she said. “It was kind of hard for me last year since we didn’t have as many players as we normally have. Playing a whole game without getting much of a break took a big toll on my physical and mental aspect.”

Although these various challenges have proved to be a struggle for Wedin, she does feel that she has overcome them, at least in part. “I think I’ve gotten a lot better at handling myself and just pushing through mentally,” she said. “The mental side of basketball is so intense because if you make a mistake on offense or defense you just have to move onto the next play. My mental toughness over the years has improved because I know that’s such an important part of the game — not letting your mistakes come back and haunt you.”

Wedin is also grateful for the supportive community environment that she has found at La Salle, particularly in regards to the motivation the girls basketball program receives. 

La Salle’s small size allows for the entire student body to be connected to the sports teams, which Wedin said is very special to her. “I really enjoy playing in this kind of community,” she said. “The whole La Salle community is pretty invested in it. It’s a pretty good support system.”

Whether the support is coming from her family, her friends, her teammates, or her peers at school, Wedin feels that she is constantly backed by a nurturing environment of people who want to see the team succeed. 

Wedin said that the key to her own personal success is to always focus on consistency, as she feels that repetition is the best way to grow steadily as an athlete. 

As someone who specializes in shooting three-pointers, repetition and practice are vital in Wedin’s growth as a player. “Shooting threes has always kind of been my strength,” she said. “I’m trying to get better at other aspects of my game, but [shooting] has always been my main focus — to always get better at that.”

The parts of basketball that Wedin finds to be the most rewarding are products of the repetition she works to maintain. “I spend so much time training, and being able to see how my training has benefited me, and just seeing that all the work I put in pays off,” she said.

Wedin has also seen her commitment to basketball provide her with knowledge and skills that are applicable in other areas of her life. “I can’t just go through the motions,” she said. “You’re going to have to actually put in the work to be successful at anything. It’s also taught me how to work well with other people.”

The work that Wedin puts into her basketball career is not only challenging work but is extremely time-consuming as well.

Does Wedin have any hobbies outside of playing basketball? “Not really,” she said. “I don’t really have a lot of other free time.”

The yearly schedule that Wedin follows for basketball is rigorous, and there is seldom a time during the year that she is not playing for her club team, her school team, or both. 

Given the fact that playing at Wedin’s level of competitiveness requires a generous time commitment, learning to balance basketball with school is something that she had to adapt to once she began high school.

“My freshman year I kind of didn’t know how to [manage], but this year I’ve gotten a lot better at it,” Wedin said. “I go to my teachers for a lot of help.”

One of these teachers is Mr. Paul Dreisbach, who is teaching Wedin this year in one of his AP English III classes. Although Wedin feels that AP English III is the most challenging and difficult course she is taking this year, she has also awarded it with the title of being her favorite class this school year.

“All of the writing assignments and reading assignments have been super important in today’s world and have impacted me a lot,” Wedin said. “I think I’ve gotten better as a writer this year.”

Wedin is not yet sure what she wants to do in the future, but she is sure that basketball and college are both parts of the equation. This has always been a dream of hers, and that dream is starting to become a reality.

“Last year is when it kind of started,” Wedin said. “Last club season, so in the spring and summer, I started looking into colleges and colleges were recruiting me.”

Now, as a junior, the process of being recruited to play at the collegiate level has continued to progress for Wedin, as she looks ahead to where she will go next. 

Wherever that may be, Wedin is sure that the skills she has developed from years of training will carry her through to another chapter of her life where she will continue to grow as both a person and a basketball player, and of course, with her family by her side through it all.