By Lexee Guerra, Reporter
5’9″ freshman basketball player Clay Denlinger is getting ready for the upcoming season.
Tryouts are just around the corner, and Denlinger is getting ready by practicing five days a week. Denlinger has been playing basketball since 1st grade. He played all through middle school, as well as on the traveling Cagers team for many years.
“I am feeling good and excited about trying out soon for the team,” Denlinger said.
Denlinger’s former Cagers teammate, Joey Pollastrini said, “I think this year will be fun, and the high school aspect of it will be fun, too.”
Denlinger sets his goal for the season higher by wanting to go undefeated. Not only does Denlinger set high standards for this team, but he also sets high standards for himself, he said. He said he wants to focus more on his ball-handling, and getting under five turnovers a game. In addition to going undefeated, Denlinger said he is most looking forward to beating Batavia and Geneva for the last time.
“I like working as a team to accomplish goals,” freshman Austin Hukle said.
Though these are goals that must be highly worked at, Hukle said he is looking forward to just playing and having fun.
“I think we’ll be better than we’ve ever been, and I think that it’ll be a fun time with the coaches and players,” Pollastrini said.
The coach this year is Brian Willis, who hopes this season will be a lot of fun.
“I am looking forward to kids who will work hard and be successful on and off the court, which I think they will be,” Willis said.
“It’s gonna be a good season. It’s gonna kick butt,” Denlinger said.
“What I like the most about basketball is having a fun time and winning,” Pollastrini said.