Winter sports are now in full swing and the girls basketball team has had an exciting start. With this being their second year in a new league they are adjusting well and attempting to make their way to the top. Though many key players have graduated there is still deep potential in the Wildcat team.
Although the girls lost their first non-league game to Port Clinton by 3 points, they had an exciting win against the Genoa Comets. The girls were down eight points in the last two minutes of the game and came back to win the game 64-59. Not only this game but multiple games this year the girls found themselves clawing back into games after getting down in the beginning, and they have never accepted defeat. To head coach Kyle Clair, it’s more than just a game. Each year he sits down before the season to come up with a saying or word to use to represent the season ahead. He evaluates the group that he will be working with and what will benefit the girls and relate to them most. This particular group of girls are determined, hardworking, and dedicated to being the best they can be. Kyle Clair, the head coach of the girls team for 17 seasons now, says this group is special because, “One of the things that I get approached about, as do all coaches, is the need to increase numbers and participation. There is truth to that to sustain your program, but one of the positives of having 14 players on a team is you get to know them well, can talk to all of them daily, and truly develop great relationships. The combination of players on this team have brought an eclectic set of experiences with them from other sports & previous basketball years where they have seen highs & lows, had to overcome injuries, and have some things to prove to themselves. I believe they genuinely appreciate the opportunity and want to be a part of something special. They all have great personalities, can have fun with one another, but also seem to know when it’s time to get to work. When that is player lead, it’s special! As their coach, I appreciate all of that and look forward to getting to spend time with this group. These girls have been one of my favorite groups to coach.”
Being a part of the girls basketball team myself, I get to see firsthand how our saying this year has been applied throughout games, practices, and my life in general. This year Coach Clair has implemented the acronym “ATD”, into our everyday lives. When I asked Clair why he chose this as the motive this year he shared with me that, “This group reminded me of one of my initial teams with tremendous potential and on the verge of something great. I used ‘Attention to Detail’ as one of my first slogans and wanted to bring that back in a new way with the right focus. I believe that this team can do amazing things. Long story short, ‘Attention to Detail’ took on the short form of ‘ATD’ and this team has made it their own. Plus, there is some nostalgia for me and makes me proud to have been a part of this program for so long and see these girls contribute to it. It is important because the details are what are going to set you apart. Being attentive to them and taking care of them gives us a focus every day and reminds us that we can’t cut corners if we want to accomplish our goals. It gives us something to measure ourselves with each day both as a team and as individuals. We have core priority details that are important for not just our games, but practices, classroom, hallways, and outside of school. I think the team has taken ownership of them and they want to abide by them. ATD encompasses skills, intangibles, effort, how you treat others, being present, and not running from challenges.”
Sports develop us into much more than just greater athletes, they make us better people. The girls continue the second round of their season throughout January and February. With lots of potential, the team hopes to continue growing their skills and continue to pay close attention to small details. Good luck to the girls on the rest of their season!
