Senior Amelia Harrison has been a member of the girls’ basketball team for all four years of high school. She has played at every level over the years, facing adversity and many challenges. 

“The phrase ‘next play… ‘ I use this through life as well as basketball because it helps me move past my mistakes,” Harrison said.

Senior year is a big change and struggle for many people, especially for seniors in sports, who have to take on new leadership roles, be an example for younger team members, and improve themselves all at once. But for Harrison, this only makes her better. 

 “Being a senior has given a very positive impact on my role, because I love working together with my team and I embrace the challenge of becoming a leader for others,” Harrison said.

While facing adversity and taking on new challenges, Harrison never backs down and strives for greatness with full force.

“The struggle of playing is what pushed me so far,” Harrison said.

Senior Wrenna Streicher has been a member of the Lakes girls’ basketball team since her freshman year of high school. But it did not start there. Streicher has been playing basketball since she was four years old. During all of this time, basketball brought her many lessons.

“Something basketball taught me is to persevere and not give up. This has translated to my everyday life, where even when things get hard, I don’t quit because we can do challenging things,” Streicher said.

Basketball is not just a sport; it is a life lesson for Streicher. The many lessons that come from being a part of a team and being a leader benefit her on and off the court. The persistence that she shows from being a part of this sport for over half of her life is astonishing, and is a great example for many young girls. 

While being interviewed, Streicher said many important lessons that she learned from basketball, but when asked what she would tell her younger self, she said something that all young athletes should know.

“I would tell myself that basketball is a very hard sport, and to find the fun in little moments, because that’s what you will remember, not losing those games,” Streicher said.

Being a part of a sport is not just about winning or losing, but creating a community and meeting people who will forever have an impact on your life. Senior Olivia Lamb has also been a part of the team for all four years of high school, but Lamb’s experience playing basketball is a little different from the others. 

“It was very time-consuming and at times became more of a chore than a hobby. There were many times I really started not to love basketball anymore and didn’t want to play,” Lamb said.

Many athletes struggle with burnout and losing the love for a sport they could not live without. While dealing with so much pressure and feelings of giving up, Lamb needed someone to be there to help her through it. Her coach, Grant Murray, and her teammates were those people.

“I will never forget when my coach told me that he is here for me outside of basketball. It might seem like a small thing, but I knew he meant it, and he has been through my years on the team,” Lamb said.

These three seniors are the last of the nineteen girls who started basketball freshman year and have never stopped working hard since.