With basketball season right around the corner, the girls basketball team at Olympia High School has been participating in pre-season conditioning, getting ready for another amazing year of wins and records. Combining old players and fresh faces, the team has been working on building chemistry, getting fit, and preparing to bring it to the next level when the first game finally arrives.
For senior Tanisha Carter, conditioning is about more than just running drills; it’s about becoming a stronger, more united team. “I’m looking for us to play like a team and be a winning one,” she said. Because she has been playing since third grade, Carter knows the value of preparation. “Conditioning helps because once we’re in shape, practices can focus more on plays and learning our positions,” Carter explained.
Junior Aaliyah Friedman agreed that the extra work now will pay off later. “The energy is good right now, but it could be better once the season starts,” she shared. For her, the biggest challenge has been the weight room and perfecting her craft as a point guard. Still, she is confident that this year’s team will stand out. “We’re more serious about the season and more focused this year,” she said.
Freshman Aaliyah Jones is learning what it takes to keep up at the high school level of basketball. “The hardest part of conditioning is running and my legs being tight afterwards,” she laughed. But even when things get tough, she motivates herself to stay encouraged. “I tell myself to keep going, and I always finish,” Jones explained. Her advice to potential players? — “Keep going no matter what, even if people say differently.”
For junior Sasha Do, basketball is not just about the game, it’s about human connections that she gets to build being a part of the team. “I want friendships and just a cool hobby,” she said. She started playing in sixth grade and is ready to be in shape, ready for the next season, and ready to do her best.
As conditioning is being pushed through by the team, the players are to focus on a single objective. To be stronger, quicker, and more united than ever before. And with coordination, determination, and perseverance, the Olympia girls basketball team is trying to make a way for a winning season ahead.
We’re doing it now so we can show later,” coach Milson grinned. That is exactly what the Olympia girls basketball team has in mind.
