By Delaney Fitzpatrick
Special to the Pioneer Times
Editor’s note: Delaney Fitzpatrick wrote this article about the Katahdin High School boys basketball team for the school newspaper. She interviewed first-year coach Michael Susi, along with team captains, Wyatt Morse, Gavin Russell and Nick Lane. The community is so good at supporting the boys in their basketball dreams, Fitzpatrick shared the article with the Pioneer Times to show how the team has really improved, and not just in skill. Fitzpatrick said, “Watching these boys come together has been almost as fun watching them win most of their games. Keep up the work boys and I hope you all enjoy the article.”
Ubuntu. A now common phrase in our school. It is an African word for kinship and it means a lot to 13 boys, two girls, and one teacher in our school.
This year, ‘Ubuntu’ has swept our school, and not just the basketball team. When we are watching the boys warm up, the starters get called, and the crowd applauding it’s pretty awesome. But nothing compares to watching them come together in the middle of the floor before the game and yell the one foreign word that everyone in our Katahdin region understands. Ubuntu.
Our basketball team has seen a lot of changes this year, not only in team members and team spirit, but also a new coach — Michael Susi. He is the fourth coach in over four years to take on this team. Though some might consider it a challenge to coach 12 boys successfully, he doesn’t seem to think so. When asked what the team’s strengths are, he said that they had many strengths, but the greatest strength was their sense of togetherness.
“This group of young men embody what it means to be a ‘team’ and take pleasure in working together towards a common goal while playing a game that they love. They are a tight-knit group of boys on and off the court, something that is very rare in sports at any level,” Susi said.
Team captains Wyatt Morse, a senior; Gavin Russell, a junior; and Nick Lane, a sophomore, couldn’t agree more. A few of the other strengths they mentioned were speed, athleticism, communication, dribble penetration, transition offense, and having a great coach.
As far as weaknesses, Susi believes that their biggest weakness is rebounding and his three captains completely agree. The biggest contenders of their season will be Hodgdon, Easton and Southern Aroostook.
When asked what they would like to improve, Susi wants to improve and compete every day, whether in a game or practice, and he wants to help the boys achieve their goals, large or small.
Morse would like to improve his weaknesses and be the best teammate he can be. Russell is shooting for at least a 70 percent free throw percentage and to do his best to help his team win games. Lane is going for getting better every day, continuing to work hard through thick and thin, keep winning games, and doing well in the tournament.
And yes, all of them agreed, they want a Gold Ball in the trophy case.
When asked the question, “Do you think your team has come together more this year?,” they gave glowing reviews.
“This team is a family. Every player is like a brother to me,” said Morse. “Easily the closest team I have ever played on,” added Russell and Lane contributed, “I think it is because we work really well together, on and off the court.” Not much more you could ask for, if you’re asking me.
This group has taken more strides this year than any team I have seen so far whether it be team chemistry, skills, or respect for one another, they have improved in more ways than one. I wish them good luck in the rest of their season and hope for the best.
If there is one thing I have learned from watching them, it’s Ubuntu is a lifestyle. And our boys have certainly been living it.
