By Luke Graeber
As winter quietly creeps in and the days grow shorter, something electric starts to stir in Irvington. The chill in the air is no match for the rising heat inside the gym, where the Irvington girls basketball team is gearing up for a tough schedule while still adjusting to Coach Gina Maher stepping down from head coach.
Two amazing senior athletes Jelena Herceg and Kayla Clinton, both members of the girls basketball season, shared some words describing their optimism and perspectives on the team this year with a new coach.
Jelena expressed strong confidence in the team’s direction under Coach Degnan, someone she’s worked with before, saying “Having been coached by Coach Degnan in past years, she has motivated me to work hard and grow as a player. Not only am I excited to work with her again, but to see what she has in store for our team. She’s a hard worker and truly dedicated to the program. This only means that as a team we can become even stronger”
Even though Gina Maher’s shoes are quite huge to fill due to all of her incredible achievements Jelena believes that Coach Degnan has the ability to bring this program to another level.
Jelena’s confidence in the team is echoed by most of her teammates which is what makes the program so special.
Building on that optimism, Kayla Clinton shared her own perspective on what this season means for the Bulldogs when she stated“I’m super excited for the season ahead, I know we have a hard schedule but I think we are going to surprise a lot of people. While it is going to be very different without Mrs. Maher I know our new coach is going to do really well”
Kayla and Jelena both show a strong sense of optimism and confidence despite the team having to adapt to new coaching. They both acknowledge that the upcoming season will be tough, but believe the team has the potential to exceed expectations. Their words also reflect respect for Mrs. Maher’s legacy while expressing trust in the new coach. The bond and trust that these girls have in each other is incredible, and is the reason why they will succeed in this upcoming season.
With trust in their new coach, and confidence in each other, the Irvington girls basketball team is ready to take on the season. Both Jelena and Kayla’s excitement shows that the team is motivated and prepared for the challenges ahead. Even with a tough schedule and big shoes to fill, the Bulldogs are focused on working together and improving their craft every game. Their optimism and teamwork make it clear that this season has the potential to be a great one.
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