What Freshman Basketball Taught Me by Katie Groome

Freshman basketball. Where do I begin? I guess it all started when I was told I would be a fantastic basketball player- said with such excitement and hope- by several people due to my height advantage. I had been told this for years, however I never seriously thought about pursuing my basketball career until high school came along. Surprisingly, I made the freshman team, along with my friends who decided to try out with me, and thus my new adventure began. Having never played before, I wouldn’t refer to this “adventure” as very smooth. It only took a short time for my coach to realize, despite my height, I wasn’t very skilled with the sport, and as she admitted, neither was one of my good friends who also made the team. Fouling out of games, nearly tackling opponents, and shooting backwards during the first scrimmages landed me a seat on the bench for the vast majority of the games later on. Although I did not partake in playing much, I was able to bond and spend quality time with others on the team. When I did get in the game, with my other friend who struggled with basketball, our teammates, parents, spectators and coach described our way of playing as entertaining and overall just funny (however sometimes it would get so bad to the point where it was more-so embarrassing than anything else). The freshman team overall was clearly not one of Sparta’s most skilled, considering we lost most of our games, but we tried our best never the less.

My First Basket

 One memory I specifically remember was my first basket, which was made about half way through the season. Considering that I was barely able to handle the ball, getting it into the basket seemed nearly impossible. My teammates, especially my friends Heather, Kate and Olivia who were very supportive of my career, encouraged me to, and I quote, “just look at the basket”. Trust me, it’s much harder than it sounds. Anyway, as if the opportunity was made for me, I took the ball, and did exactly

what my teammates had constantly been advising me to do: I looked at the basket. Without much time to think, I flung the ball up in the air, and to my pleasant surprise it went right in. The crowd cheered, more than usual, as this was a rare and unexpected thing for me to do on the court. My teammates hugged me and I was overwhelmed by the feeling of accomplishment. It was not until I later watched a video of the shot that my accomplished feeling vanished and rather all I only saw this moment as humorous.

Looking past the challenges and issues that I, and a few others on the team, encountered, I was able to see how this season benefitted us. Not only did I meet some of the most encouraging, optimistic and kind people, I also created some of my first high school memories. Freshman basketball enlightened me in a way I never imagined. All of my life, I only saw the competitive, pressuring and nerving side of sports, specifically in soccer. This past year I was able to experience athletics, while still trying my best, in a less pressuring and more unnerving way. I am fortunate for those who would constantly tell me how I would excel as a basketball player because I am taller than a lot of girls- not because they were right- but because when I did take their advice, I discovered something that may have been even better than a hidden talent I could’ve had for basketball; I discovered how a sport is not only about the competition, but it is also about having fun and creating valuable, life-long bonds and memories.