Girls basketball team overcomes challenges that come with the low-residency program

Photo+contributed+by+Sandi+Yanisko+

Photo contributed by Sandi Yanisko

The girls basketball team arrived on campus Jan. 8 and have been training as a team, not knowing whether a game would appear on their schedule this season. 

Sixth form captain Cynthia Williams wrote, “Not playing games has been very upsetting for the girls but we try to stay positive. We try to stay motivated and keep working hard in case we do eventually get to play a real game.” 

Sixth former Sydney Floyd also wrote, “Not knowing about games is definitely frustrating for our team, but we have been staying positive and taking it day by day.”  Although the team hasn’t had outside competition this season, they have still found ways to make the most of their time on campus.

Williams continued to report, “The LRP has been more fun than we all expected it to be. We have grown so much as a team and created a sisterhood.” The time spent in the dorms and on the court has made up for the fact they are not able to play any games. 

Courtney Bodolus, a fourth former on the team wrote, “I’ve made so many unforgettable memories and friendships with teammates living here these past weeks.”

On top of training during the Low Residency Program, the teams are also participating in an H-Term course, as well as getting weekly assignments for each class. Annabella Schafer, a new fourth former wrote, “It was definitely hard to manage all my schoolwork at first, but it kept me on a schedule.” Each day looks very similar in terms of school time, mealtime and practicing which made it easy for players to stay on top of their assignments. 

Because the LRP has formed a bubble environment for winter athletes to compete in, day students on winter teams had to board during the LRP. The basketball team has a few day students but being together in the dorm made the boarding process a lot better. Schafer wrote, “As a day student, boarding was new for me. I was scared at first, but I realized quickly I have the best people here to help get me through it.”

The girls basketball is the smallest winter team participating in the LRP with only nine players. This could definitely be a major setback for the team; however, Schafer wrote, “In some of these challenging times we managed to stay positive and push through the whole time.”

The team has really been enjoying themselves these past few weeks. Floyd wrote, “This time has been some of the best moments of this year, and I am grateful for my team.” Even without games, the girls basketball team clearly continued to thrive this season on and off the court.