Lindbergh Basketball

Isabella Capriglione Staff Writer

Basketball at Lindbergh High School has started it’s season, and it’s nice to know what the team is all about, along with meeting the team and players. For the underclassmen, playing basketball with upperclassmen players can cause friendships and bonds to form because of the community that is within the players. “It feels great the seniors are always helpful and always looking out for me,” Nyla Jackson (10) said about being part of the team. Basketball goes from Junior Varsity to Varsity. This can go from freshman year to all the way to senior year. “Being an underclassmen feels good, they lead our team and help us out,” said Nicholas Bonczkowski (11). It’s important to have a balance, by being a teammate that can help by either cheering on other teammates from the bench to high-fiving the other team players when the team wins or loses. It’s exciting coaching different age groups because the coach gets to see the players grow and develop throughout their time in the program. “One thing I love about basketball is there is always something that you can improve on,” said Coach Bryan Maier, who has been coaching high school basketball for six years. There are many reasons why Maier loves to coach. “I love the game of basketball. Coaching provides a unique opportunity to have a positive impact on students outside of the classroom,” Maier said.

Pictured above are boys basketball players Nicholas Bonczkowski (11), Payton Jaggie (12) and William Stockman (12).

4

When students join basketball, they have mostly been playing the sport for a while, such as Charlotte Zink (12). Zink has been playing basketball for nine years. Many factors contribute to players joining the team from their own personal interest to being told they should join because they are athletic or even tall for their age. For the upperclassmen, they feel like it helps them feel more part of the community. Many seniors have an effect on the team because they interact, influence the other students and players. “What it felt like to play with lower-classmen, I love it. It is so fun to get to make friends who are grades younger than you and to get to be someone they look up to,” said Sydney Thomas (12). When playing on the team with the underclassmen, upperclassmen tend to look out for them during the games and practices. There are many strengths and weaknesses in the game of basketball, which level each other out. “My greatest strength is my attitude. I can help lift up our team when the spirit gets down because of a loss or something. I am good at getting everyone hyped up to go play basketball,” Zink said. Helping lift the team up during the games, whether they win or lose, is a good strength to have, but basketball isn’t about the physical things a person’s mental heath can be effected as well. “One of my weaknesses is keeping my head in the game and focused Sports mentally and psychologically during the game,” said Ella Wolfard (12). 02.25.22

Girls Basketball -

Some of the seniors on the girls’ basketball team have been playing the game for a while, and they have different reasons for starting. Wolfard has been playing since she was in second grade at age seven because of her dad. Thomas has been playing since fourth grade, and started playing high school basketball since freshman year because of her parents. Zink started playing because her friends and family encouraged her because of her height.

The picture above is the boys’ varsity basketball team in a huddle during a close-call basketball game.

Boys Basketball-

The boys’ basketball Coach Nathan Biggs started coaching boys basketball while still in college, and he has never stopped playing, adding up to be a total of eight years of playing and coaching basketball. Since Biggs coaches and teaches, he enjos seeing the players in a different setting and for them to see him outside of basketball. Coach Biggs enjoys basketball because every player on the floor has a responsibility and each responsibility that a player has is very important. “I love seeing players grow throughout their time in high school as both basketball players and growing into young men,” Coach Biggs said. “I would like to think that I make a difference when coaching. I hope that the players accept my emphasis on consistency and effort through everything that we do on and off the court.”