Basketball is one of the many sports Trinity High School offers. Winter has just started, and while most take it as an opportunity to rest and slow down, it is only the beginning for those on the basketball team. For some, basketball is just another sport in the year, but for others, it is much more.
Hard work is displayed from seniors on varsity to freshmen on junior varsity. Coach Polansky leads the junior varsity team and is an assistant for the varsity team.
Polansky commented on the main goals for JV and varsity this season: “For JV, it is focusing mainly on player development, and for varsity, it is working better as a team and ultimately winning the section.”
As a coach for 30 years, basketball has been a significant part of his life, and he loves the people involved in the sport.
“My overall goal is to give players a positive experience while still trying to improve team development and skill,” Polansky says.
While many other high schools may treat their players like they are only kids, Trinity brings a sense of professionalism to their practices and games, especially when it comes to letting seniors take the lead when mentoring underclassmen.
Head coach Tim Tessmer states, “The team is showing signs of gelling together well and is starting to make progress.”
The theme of hard work is always a recurring one for Trinity sports.
“I’ve been coaching for over 15 years, and this group is special like so many are. When the guys work as hard as this group does, you want to see them find success on and off the court” Tessmer says.
This year’s goal is to make a deep playoff run and find success throughout the season.
Tessmer said: “The team returned to the playoffs (last season) but lost in the first round. Injuries played a huge role last year. This year’s team returns a lot of guys with experience, so hopefully that shows through and we can make a deep playoff run.”
Everyone loves good rivalries, no matter the sport. Players and coaches alike recurringly discuss the need for support from Trinity students, alumni and parents.
Tesmer comments, “We are looking forward to a great season and, like always, need to see the Hiller Hooligans pack the gym. Plenty of great contests are coming up this winter.”
Confidence and competitiveness are the keys to success for any team and are the most important ones for this year’s roster, according to coaches and fans. Throughout their season, with support, the team continues to grow and drill hard because, with hard work and effort, anything is achievable.
