Hard work is its own reward

Wasilla Middle School’s motto, “the harder we work, the smarter we get,” rings throughout the halls as a kind of mantra. It is a shared belief that belongs to both students and staff.

Still, when the vice principal asked me to help coach C team girls basketball, I told him he was nuts. I didn’t know anything about playing basketball. Then the mantra occurred to me and I shrugged. Sure, why not.

I am not sure what C team basketball stands for, unless varsity is A, junior varsity is B and everything else is C. Maybe it means the cut team since everyone who otherwise would be cut from a team lands on C team. But, I am not buying it. C team is more of a Cinderella team.

Take this year’s girls C team at Wasilla Middle for example. Twenty-three seventh- and eighth-graders filled the small gym each week to practice dribbling, shooting and plays. For some of the girls on C team, this is the first time they ever played on a basketball team. For many more, it may be the last time.

No fancy shoes or matching shorts for them during practice: they dribbled the balls in the same shoes they wore to school. From a distance our team looked like 26 raggamuffins with ponytails. But, our girls practiced every day with such heart it would either warm your own, or break it.

My partner and lead coach Rosemary Hill and I formed four small teams, leaving no room for error, but lots of guaranteed playing time. No other middle school hosted as many teams, thus on game days we were sure to play each other at least once.

It would be a great Disney-type column if I added that our girls worked so hard and learned so much that they rallied the middle school C team tournament held at Colony Middle School this past weekend. Alas, by the end of the first night, the competition eliminated three of our four teams. Handily, I might add.

I fear the end result obscures how hard our girls worked all season and how much smarter they had become. Since the tournament didn’t result with glass slippers and crystal carriages for them, how could anyone recognize their incredible spirit and improved skill? No. 45 not only made two baskets, but believed that she could. No. 10 had emerged as the quiet leader of her team, and because of that, within the classroom as well. In my eyes, each girl had become a princess.

Still, one of our teams did make it to the championship game, where Teeland’s well-disciplined and sharp shooting team took home the first-place trophy.

Watching our lopsided girls smile next to their second-place trophy, cheering for each other and their two equally lopsided coaches, I recalled the other motto at WMS: “Wasilla Braves — loud and proud.” I maintain the principal was nuts for considering me as a C-team coach. But, I am ever so glad he did.

Emily Forstner teaches Language Arts at Wasilla Middle School.