Full Court Press

from Titan Trail (Summer 2013)

Athletics

Team effort, work ethic led to dream season

IIt was a season full of Hollywood moments: huge victories, humbling losses, trophies won and records set. You can almost still hear the echoes of the screaming Titan fans on Dale Travis Court in the Estes Athletic Center. You can still see the picture in your mind’ s eye of each player and coach climbing the ladder to cut down the net at the conclusion of the 2013 Prep League tournament. It was a memorable season, but it was also part of a longer and bigger story.

Coach Rick Hamlin

’96 played on Trinity ’ s state-champion team 17 years ago, and never thought the lessons he learned then would resonate so strongly today. “My senior year, when we won the Prep League and the state championship, every single member of the team contributed and everyone played a part in winning the championship, ” he said. “I feel the same way about this year ’ s team. By the end of the season, every member of the team was fully invested and understood that they made a difference. ” Hamlin, in his second year as varsity coach, had worked with many of the team members for four years, including three of the captains.

For Hamlin, practice sessions are where it all begins. “It ’ s a process-driven experience. The journey matters more than the destination, ” he said. “The daily preparation is what ’ s important. The results take care of themselves. ” Hamlin ’ s methods were forged in his years as a junior varsity coach. “Seniors Bryan Black, Geordie Marget and Dayton Strader established practice habits they learned as junior varsity players. They were critically important. They understood how to practice, ” he said. They were joined by standout Jaylen Hinton ’13, who came to TES as a junior, and was promptly chosen by the team as a co-captain. “He was so respected by his teammates for his work ethic, drive, and charisma. They saw something special in him the summer before he started classes here. By the time he spent his first day here, he was always a leader. ”

These student-athletes agree with Hamlin ’ s hard-driving, team-building approach. “Coach Hamlin believes in team building, ” said Dayton Strader ’13. “He doesn ’ t force it. He just let it happen. ” Strader, whom Hamlin called his hardest-working practice leader, said the intensity of the practice sessions were key to the team ’ s success. “The practices are so tough. There ’ s no way to NOT practice, ” he said.

Jaylen Hinton, who racked up national recognition, multiple awards, and will play Division I basketball for Georgia State, was nevertheless fully committed to the team-centric philosophy espoused by Hamlin. “Coach Hamlin is always positive, ” he said, “And he really believes in you. ” Hamlin was quick to acknowledge that Hinton placed the team ’ s well-being over and above any personal ambitions he may have had. “This season Jaylen sacrificed some of his scoring to get his teammates involved. He made choices for the betterment of the team, which speaks to his character, ” said Hamlin. “He deserves all the attention he has received. ” Character is as much a part of the Hamlin game plan as basketball fundamentals. “I believe in teaching high school boys that toughness isn ’ t just macho posturing, it isn ’ t just attitude. It ’ s cheering for your teammate who came in the game for you, when you ’ re on the bench. It ’ s playing when you ’ ve had three tests that day. It ’ s losing a game, shaking hands with you opponent, putting your tie back on and walking out with your head up, ” he said.

“It ’ s learning how to conduct yourself on and off the court. ”

Hamlin had coaching support from assistants Clarence McGill, Steven McCarthy ’05, and Mitch Hauser. He also had the powerful support of the entire Trinity community. Nowhere was that more apparent than at the Prep League Tournament, played at Collegiate School. “Students, teachers, alums and parents showed up so strong that weekend, ” he said. “That gym became ‘ our gym ’ for the weekend. It was one of the most special things that I’ ve seen: a symbiotic relationship between players and fans. ”

In the aftermath of the Prep League Championship victory over Christchurch School, Hamlin and the team tried to fix that Hollywood ending in their minds. “I was very conscious of soaking this in, ” said Hamlin. “I wanted to have as much fun as I could. In the locker room, nobody wanted to leave. We didn ’ t want the moment to end. ”

“I don ’ t think they ’ll ever forget this, ” he said. Hundreds of Titan fans agree.