The Pilgrim girls basketball team has faced a roller coaster few seasons, going from a title appearance, to a playoff return, then to a winless season and so on. Pilgrim returned an experienced core in 2023 and found a home in Division III and went on to win a dogfight race and the eventual title. It was Kaitlyn Rachiele’s first season as the team’s head coach and she immediately made her presence felt, quickly finding the right lineup and rotations to allow Pilgrim to win its first seven games and carry that momentum through the postseason. Rachiele’s ability to recognize each player’s strengths and weaknesses was key in the Pats finding a well-balanced lineup and be primed for the playoffs.