Marquette, MI – July 7th, 2025 – In the past couple of weeks, multiple UP basketball programs have posted for or hired new leaders on the hardwood. We will take a look at each new hire in upcoming articles.
Today, we head to West Ishpeming. After finishing last season with a 14-10 record and a loss to rival Ishpeming (57-40) in the district semifinals, Coach Annie Skewis decided to step down after her fourth season. Skewis had joined the Patriot basketball staff with 20 years of experience. She had also played on the Westwood State Championship team in 2003.
Filling her shoes is Christie Makela, who was revealed as the program’s new leader on July 1st. Makela, a former international professional basketball player, coached girls’ varsity basketball in California before moving to the U.P. in 2016, with her husband, Dan, a Westwood alum.
Christie Makela has been a third-grade teacher at Aspen Ridge Elementary, within the NICE School District, for the past 10 years. In her previous seasons with Westwood Girls’ Basketball, she spent her time coaching the JV team. She will now have the opportunity to coach former players whom she coached at that level and build on the success the returning players started last year.
