The Wolverines are at it again, dominating the court and racking up the wins. With a 4-2 record so far, this season is looking to be a great one for the Junior Varsity (JV) women’s basketball team. The players work together both on and off the field to improve as athletes and players. On this team, the driving force to success is camaraderie and sportsmanship.
The team works together to constantly improve their game. This initiative can take many shapes, a major one being off-season training. Sophomore small forward Sahasra Kasarla is very familiar with this training and the results it can incur.
“[Off-season training] is when we have our hardest workouts and develop our athletic skills for the season, and it’s the most important time for our basketball careers,” Kasarla said. “But it’s a great time to get to know your teammates further and bond. We look back and laugh at off-season workouts.”
It’s never about individual skill, but rather the team coming together to create something magical. Every player on the team brings strength and prowess in everything they do, both on and off of the field. Dillon Burdette is the coach of the JV women’s basketball team. He is very proud of the team and their accomplishments so far this season.
“I’m not going to shout out any one player, but all [of] the players,” Burdette said. “They all deserve recognition, as they have all improved and each faced challenges. I’m so happy to coach them and [am] proud of them so far. [The] sky is the limit. We have a special group that is going to do special things at Wakefield over these years.”
For many athletes, sports go far beyond the scope of high school, and so it’s equally as important to train and prepare for the future. Sophomore NeVaeh Barfield, manager for the JV Women’s Basketball team, highlights the potential impacts that workouts can have.
“[High school workouts exist] to get [athletes] ready because college workouts can be horrible,” Barfield said. “Some want to, or do, quit. But that motivation, just going to the weight room, running, grinding and actually doing basketball helps you get ready for that college experience.”
Along with skills, motivation plays a huge role in shaping the outcome of the team. The team cherishes traditions which serve to boost morale and keep the players engaged. Barfield knows the importance of team traditions in curating camaraderie among teammates.
“After games or near the start of a game [we] usually like to dress up nice and formal to show how committed [we] are to the team, and [we] want to still make it fun,” Barfield said.
Motivation can also stem from outside traditions. The players on the team are excellent at supporting one another throughout games and practices. Freshman point guard and guard Leah McDuffee shares her experiences with team support.
“The energy on this team is everything,” McDuffee said. “We stay motivated by constantly cheering each other on and staying positive, even when a game is tough. Our coaches also play a huge part because they believe in us and show us how to improve, so we’re always trying to play our best for them and for each other.”
As important as it is to focus on team performance, it is just as important to prioritize common goals. For Wakefield, that means racking up as many wins as possible.
“Our team goal is a conference championship,” Burdette said. “We have 6 conference opponents… [and] we have beaten every team once so far besides Rolesville. We are first place in the conference, but Rolesville will be a revenge game. Please come support us as we are going to be high energy and [show] intensity [in] the game.”
