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Updates from Upperclassmen by Erin Boorsma

When looking from an outside perspective on the girls basketball team this season, it may look a bit defeating. Our record is pretty rough with no wins so far in the season, but I believe that is not representative of the work we have put in and the values we have learned along the way. With four strong senior players graduating last year, it has taken some rebuilding, and we are still actively working toward getting better day by day and continue to bring energy and intensity to every game and practice.

A week ago at practice one of our coaches told us to watch a short video on YouTube titled “Kara Lawson: Handle Hard Better.” In the video she talks about how we often wait for things to get easier in life, but truly what happens is we get better at handling hard things. Lawson says, “If you have a meaningful pursuit in life it will never be easy … so make yourself a person that handles hard well.” To succeed in basketball, we have to understand the work that it will take to get there; for our team that may be quite a lot, and we are ready to stop taking the easy way out and instead push ourselves and each other to get better.

In team sports it can be harder to make sure that everyone is actively listening to these words and applying them. That’s why as a captain, one personal phrase that has come to mind as we face this season recently is, “iron sharpens iron.” We get better by pushing each other, and part of that is understanding the importance of each day and each drill. The amount of mental and physical presence each girl has in practice and in games is vital to keep growing and improving as we move forward. As a team, every individual stride we make toward our individual goals is a contribution towards our greater goal.

Personally, basketball has never been quite my strong suit. I started playing a little later than some of my peers, and I already felt behind on a lot of the muscle memory necessities. I stuck with it for a little bit, but I eventually quit. In 10th grade I was watching a game and recognized the joy it could potentially bring me to join again, so I decided on a whim to go for it. Now as a senior looking back, I am incredibly grateful that I listened to that urge.

There are no doubt times where I find myself floating back to that feeling of inadequacy, the thought that I will always lack those skills needed to succeed, but as I’ve stuck with it I know now that the community I’ve gained from basketball and the lessons I’ve learned along the way have been worth it. This team and this program not only bring light and laughter to each day, but also push me to be a better player and person as I move forwards toward my future. This is what I believe cannot be shown on any record or stat.

Our coaching staff has continued to challenge us and motivate us this season as well. When asked to share a few words on the season so far, our head coach Jodi Schulz said, “Despite a difficult season my players have learned to play hard regardless of the score. We have camaraderie and they continue to hold their heads high. They are learning it is never acceptable to quit.” Schulz and the rest of our coaching staff are great at recognizing the heart each girl has for the sport and they come to practice each day with their own passion and dedication to our team and our goals. They have been wonderful people to be around and be coached by this season.

While it may still hurt to lose sometimes, this team has become far more resilient and we have grown tremendously because of it. So for now as our team faces the rest of the season ahead, instead of sitting back and waiting we will continue to face the hard work with drive, determination, and heart.

Erin Boorsma is a senior at Albert Lea High School.