This basketball season was a tough one for the Storm in that they were in a stage of rebuilding. With only two upperclassmen and six underclassmen on the varsity roster, it was certainly a challenge for Coach Henry Colon to help the Sturgis girls become a state tournament-calibre team such as the year before. The girls have yet to reach their full potential as they would have if they were a few years older, but the team tried its best throughout the season and most importantly had fun.
The Storm finished with an undesirable record of 2-12, but these numbers do not quantify the level of hard work that the two Sturgis captains put in to make the team better. Junior captain Brittany Gayton and sophomore captain Meaghan Fitzgerald took the girls to the Hyannis Youth and Community Center for multiple preseason practices to try to get the team acquainted with each other and to see how much talent they had and what they could work with.
At the practices, the squad did everything from drills to scrimmages, and the captains came very prepared to teach the girls as they handed out papers on how to do the drills and on what was expected for the season. Those preseason actions are important steps in being effective leaders on any team; taking it upon oneself to be a leader, working on one’s game, and making one’s teammates better were all actions exhibited by Gayton and Fitzgerald.
In a preseason interview, Coach Colon had described his preseason goals for the season: “ The goal every year is to improve during the season and qualify for the tourney. Although we are very young that goal will not change. We will need to work very hard to accomplish it.”
These goals were not accomplished of course, but with a young team, it was always going to be difficult.
Here is a brief excerpt of my recent one-on-one interview with sophomore captain Meaghan Fitzgerald, which gives a little more insight on the season:
We improved as a team and got better each and everyday. All of the girls showed effort in every game and practice and we didn't give up on ourselves.
Were your goals from the beginning of the season accomplished at the end of the season?
Some of our goals were accomplished but a lot of the girls personal goals were achieved.
Were there any freshman girls or new sophomore girls that stood out and made varsity? If so, how did they do?
Freshman Megan Borowski made varsity, and so did freshman Izzy Roberg and sophomore Emma-Kate Nemes. They all were great, especially Emma as the post player.
How was it being a captain this year as a sophomore?
Being a captain was the best experience in my life, especially being a co-captain with one of my best friends (Brittany Gayton).
With a young team, great captains, and the established team chemistry, the future looks bright. The Storm will try to improve next season, grow as players and teammates, and contend for the MIAA State Tournament, which is still the main goal, as Coach Colon stated. The Sturgis East girls clearly have the will to win more games next season, and they have the skill with that young nucleus and with the fact that they aren’t losing any seniors this year. It will just be a matter of time. Congratulations on your successes this season, girls, and best of luck next year.
No comments:
Post a Comment