As Hami’s fall sports season heads into playoffs and winter sports teams finalize team rosters, Hami’s new and returning coaches reflect on the potential for the athletic program this year.
Football coach Mr. Campbell said he was excited to have a full season with new head coach Mr. Asante and a refreshed roster.
“It’s a totally different team,” Coach Campbell said. “So this year we’ve had a chance to implement a real off season. We’ve had some new players come in. So it’s just a totally different look.”
The football team isn’t the only one carrying high expectations. Ms. Gaston, better known as Coach G, is the volleyball coach for the boys. She has led the team to two championships back to back in the fourth and third divisions respectively, and believes she and her team can go for the three-peat. “Our team is looking really good, so I think we can definitely get it,” Coach G said.
However, Coach G said this year will certainly be challenging. Many of the key players her team relied on were seniors and have now gone on to college. “[We’re] having to rebuild from losing a few key players, with seniors and everything,” Coach G said. “But we have a lot of returners that were key in us winning our championship. And so, I think we can definitely do it again.”
Coach G added that she is hopeful for the new incoming players and believes they will add lots of value to the team. “We have some surprising, hopeful people coming out this year that I think are gonna really add to the team,” she said.
On the basketball court, Coach Chesley is also reflecting on the importance of team chemistry.
He said that this year in particular the team’s bonds are at an all time high.
“There’s a lot of chemistry,” Coach Chesley said. “I feel like the boys are best friends, they hang out all the time together during lunch. They’ve been playing together for the past three years, both in school and outside of school. And hopefully it’ll translate to this varsity season.”
He said that connection translates to the court. “They’re able to coach each other. They could speak in a way that they relate better to what the message is. They’re all gonna be holding each other accountable, and there’ll be no hard feelings because at the end of the day, they’re all good friends.”
But even with team chemistry there is one obstacle that will be challenging to overcome, which is being a small team. Not by numbers, but by size. With the average height of the team being 5 ’10, it presents a unique challenge in the physically demanding sport.
“We’re a pretty small team. I think the average high is probably like 5’10 with two players being over 6’4. So just acknowledging the fact that we are a smaller team and not being afraid of bigger, stronger, faster, um, competitors,” Coach Chesley said. “It’s more of a confidence thing. And the players have been going against bigger guys all summer, so they’ve had the experience of that level of competition and you know, size difference. So, it’s just hoping that the players have the courage, the experience to compete against the bigger competition.”
While one basketball team has high spirits about team chemistry, the other is having to start from scratch.
Girls’ basketball coach Coach Sheam is undoubtedly one of the best coaches Hamilton has. Last year the team was unstoppable with her training. “Last year’s team was filled with seniors that did go through the program for like four years,” Coach Sheam said. “This year’s team is pretty much 90 percent ninth graders, and we’re basically building from scratch.”
Coach Sheam thinks that the pandemic played a big role in last year’s team, as moving past the isolation from the pandemic brought the team closer together.
“Last year’s team had to deal with the pandemic. This year’s team doesn’t have a pandemic. So, it is still a little bit different,” Coach Sheam said. “I have to teach differently because pandemic babies learn differently from this group.” Her focus is to show this year’s team the skill of development. She said they need to learn to socialize and compliment each other in the group.
With the swarms of new athletes also comes new coaches. Coach Knuckles is this season’s soccer and softball coach in her first year at Hamilton. “Just new people, new faces, gives a new team dynamic,” Coach Knuckles said. “But yeah, we’ll be taking them on together.”
Coach Knuckles does have one goal in mind for this season: team culture. She said that team culture will be one of her focuses along with representing Hamilton to the best of her ability. “We’re approaching the season with an entire new attitude,” Coach Knuckles said. “[We’re] really focusing on team culture and representing Hamilton and the best way we can.”
