The varsity girls’ basketball team had a very close game against Land O’ Lakes High School. The girls were only seven points short of a win, but they worked their hardest to get that close. Kaycie Hyde, a junior, is a strong player on this team and is very experienced in the sport. Kaycie explained how she has “…been playing basketball for five years.” Kaycie has really worked to earn her place on this team and has been playing all of high school and even earlier. Although the girls unfortunately “…lost the game 51-58,” both teams were good sports, and Sunlake knew they had to practice even harder for the rest of their season. This loss encouraged the Seahawks to put in their all for upcoming games, where they even earned a school record for the highest-scoring game. The reason this team was able to come back so well from a loss was due to the bonds the teammates have formed with each other. This junior said, “Our team goes out to eat after practice and games,” and the girls even attend college basketball games together as fans. This type of bonding is almost as important as practicing itself since the players are able to build trust in their teammates, which is imperative in a team sport. Without this trust in other players, the girls would lack the skills they need to defeat the other teams. Additionally, attending college basketball games sets an example for the girls where they can take inspiration and visualize their futures. The reason Kaycie is such an important player is because she plays “…the point guard position the most.” This position is usually the strongest passer and dribbler on the team and prevents the other team from scoring.
As a highly dedicated athlete, Kaycie has learned to balance sports with other activities and academics. As well as basketball, this junior enjoys “…cooking, running track, and just hanging out with friends outside of basketball.” In addition to this, Kaycie is required to keep her grades up to be a member of the team. The way this student manages her time is first by trying to get all her “…schoolwork done in class…” but if she is unable to, she gets “…it done before games or after practice” to make sure she does not fall behind. Another way Kaycie manages her workload is by setting goals. She will set goals for a week for what she needs to get done and plan it around her work and practice schedule. This junior has mastered the art of building bonds with teammates and balancing her busy schedule with academics, sports, and fun.
