As Hiland senior point guard Hilary Weaver readies herself for practice last Thursday, she kneels down to adjust her tennis shoes.

These are no ordinary tennis shoes, however.

The Lady Hawks star has custom-made Nike's, decked out in Hiland black and red and complete with her jersey number (30) and the date of the Division IV state girls' basketball championship (March 20).

Weaver - one-fifth of the Lady Hawks' blockbuster 2009-10 senior class - is that dedicated to winning a title.

"You get them at NikeID.com. They give you the blank shoe, and you just go to town," Weaver said with a grin. "Noelle is getting a pair. We both designed it."

But above all of that, she is committed to her team, leading coach Dave Schlabach to call this "as good as any group of leaders" that has come through his Lady Hawk program.

And in a program that has seen Erin Hostetler, Launa and Leah Hochstetler, Lindsay Stuckey, Launie Shaw and Jena Stutzman, that's a pretty profound statement.

Yoder, Katelyn Stuckey, Mykeila Mast and Jessica Stutzman compose the remainder of this season's standout class.

"They learned from Launa Hochstetler, Lindsay Stuckey and the other leaders," Schlabach said. "They paid attention. They bought into the idea that hard work pays off. They are long term thinkers. So many kids today are just thinking about this weekend.

"They understand that if I do something today, it might help me four-years from now. They have really figured it out." They have figured out that hard work is the main ingredient to winning a state title.

And that's something they instill in their teammates everyday.

"All five of us have put in a lot of time, and that sets an example for the underclassmen and the junior high," said Weaver, the daughter of Vic and Tammy Weaver. "We consistently work hard, and that's one of the reasons we are such good leaders."

"It doesn't give them an excuse to not work hard," Stutzman interjected.

Stutzman, who has been playing with Compartment Syndrome for quite some time, is the only senior without a college scholarship. Weaver has signed at Lehigh University (Div. I) and Yoder at Bowling Green University (Div. I), while Stuckey and Mast both inked deals at Ohio Dominican University (Div. II).

Stutzman will attend Liberty University after graduation.

The Lady Hawks lost one senior in Karli Mast from the team that went 26-2 and fell to postseason nemesis Columbus Africentric, 55-46, in the state championship game a season ago. It was Hiland's fifth state tournament appearance in six tries, winning in 2005, 2006 and 2008.

Being strong leaders on the court, Stutzman said, has in turn made each of the seniors stronger people outside of the basketball arena.

"Being able to take over in stressful situations helps you to overcome adversity," the daughter of Jeff and Janet Stutzman said.

"What's always easiest," Weaver added, "isn't what will always get you the farthest or make you successful. There are times when we don't want to do a certain drill, or don't want to run, but in the long run - looking ahead - it always helps us out."

Weaver credited Launa Hochstetler - now playing pro basketball overseas - for molding her into the leader she is today. And hopefully, Weaver added, she can do the same for the underclassmen.

"I hope they learn from the good that we do and from the things we mess up on," she said.

As seniors, Stutzman said, this group has a responsibility to foster basketball fundamentals not just to the underclassmen, but to the Biddy Ball program as well.

"You have to be a good example, because that will help them be a better person - outside of basketball," said the 5-foot-7 guard, who scored 2.4 ppg a year ago with 2.7 rpg.

Weaver agreed, calling the Biddy Ball program Hiland's "future."

"How they start seeing the game and learning it, not only the skill part of it, but also the mental and leadership side of it, will effect them in the long-run," said Weaver, who scored 11.3 ppg with 2.4 rpg, 5.6 apg and 3.3 spg. "We need to take that seriously, and realize what's on the line."

With Stutzman battling for consistent playing time due to Compartment Syndrome - an acute medical problem following extensive muscle use, in which increased pressure within a confined space in the body impairs blood supply - and Mast out for the season with a right ACL injury, the Lady Hawks' road to Columbus just got a bit tougher.

However, Stutzman remains confident.

"Losing that last game [a year ago], makes you want to keep winning state championships. You want to keep striving for a higher goal," she said. "Some people may think that we don't have as good of a chance because of injuries. But that motivates us and pushes us farther to prove people wrong."

Weaver agreed.

"With injuries, we might not necessarily be the team to beat. But, I think that motivates us even more," the 5-foot-7 floor general said. "Without Myk., our pursuit of a state championship will be a lot different. But I'm confident that we'll get it figured out. We have unbelievable coaches."

While dealing with the frustration of injury is challenging at times, Stutzman said the biggest boost so far has been having her older sister, Jen, around as an assistant coach. Jen, a 2007 Hiland alum was part of the Lady Hawks 2005 and 2006 state championship teams.

"She is very easy to relate to, because I know that she went through the same thing," Jessica Stutzman said. "She keeps me motivated, even though it can be a struggle at times."

"I try and fill my staff with the right people. And with Jen, I know that she can communicate with the kids and that they can bring problems to her that they don't feel comfortable with bringing to me," Schlabach said. "I always have a couple former players around to be that buffer."