The Lakeview Bulldogs Boys Basketball team is gearing up for an exciting upcoming season, riding high on the momentum of wanting to get back a better season than their season that was cut short last year, ending in a 9-14 record. The Bulldogs basketball team is preparing to hit the hardwood for the upcoming 2024-2025 season. After having a couple of challenging previous years, showing the struggle to find their footing, the team is determined to turn things around and prove they’re capable of much more than their recent record suggests.
Not only do the Bulldogs want to prove that they are able to make this season change for the better, but they are also starting fresh. The Bulldogs have welcomed a new head coach, Coach Steve Procopio, following the decision of last season’s coach to step down from the position.
While the departure of their previous coach may seem like a setback for the team, it has not diminished the Bulldogs’ legacy. Instead, the team is able to use this transition as an opportunity, rebuilding and redefining everyone’s identity. The Bulldogs are aiming to rise above last year’s challenges and establish a stronger foundation for future success.
Carter Doran, a key player and Senior speaks heavily on the topic of the new coach position finally being taken, voicing, “One thing that excites me most about this upcoming season is first having a new coach and staff step in to lead and charge us as young players. Being able to have a fresh start to a past couple of years full of struggles is going to be crucial, and will lead our team to success.”
Not only is entering the basketball season with confidence crucial, but being able to prepare physically by getting fit is equally important for several reasons that directly impact performance of the players and overall success on the court.
Another major asset to the Bulldogs team, junior Isaiah Lantz speaks on the fact that he believes the readiness that his team is using will benefit them in the long run, “We’ve been preparing by dedicating time into the gym. We have also been conditioning a lot this season. I believe doing these things early in the season will give us extra advantage against other match ups in our conference.”
The Bulldogs are filled with excitement when it comes to talking about stepping on the court, ready to play their rivals. The team has come together with a renewed sense of purpose and determination, eager to showcase what they have been preparing for this off-season. Filled with anticipation, finally being able to compete for another year on the court fuels the player’s passion for the game, rejoicing the memories and energy in the locker room is palpable, with players sharing their goals and dreams of victory.
Junior Matthew Leonard, an essential player, elaborates, “Knowing that I will soon, finally, be able to get back on the court fills me with so much excitement. My team and I will carry our legacy through it all to have a great season.”
As the team that is preparing themselves to step onto the court for their first game this year, they carry with them the support of their community, remembering the lessons learned from their previous challenges, and a burning desire to improve from that. While the season ahead of them will undoubtedly bring its own set of obstacles, the Bulldogs have and will demonstrate once again, that they have the mental fortitude, physical preparation, and proper team spirit that is a necessity to facing them head-on.
Not only is stepping onto the court a significant goal for the Bulldog team, but the encouragement from others also greatly boosts a player’s confidence, making it easier to seize the challenge. Lantz elaborates on his inspirations, “My biggest influences would probably be my 8th Grade Coach, Coach Phillips, he really inspired me to get better and work at this sport…”
Diving deep into the excitement factors of Doran’s last season on the court, he is ready to take the court and build a beat rebound record from his previous years. Doran says, “I would need 238 rebounds to do so. My next goal would be taking over the second place all time single game rebounds, with the second currently being 19.”
Overall, the Bulldogs are ready and eager to put forward their hard work into success. With the support of their new head coach and the encouragement from their peers, they are ready to embrace every challenge and curve ball thrown at them. This upcoming season not only represents an opportunity for redemption of the previous years, but also a chance to showcase all of their growth and potential.
