HIGH SCHOOL JOURNALISM: Scout teams, reserves play big role

Editor's note: Here is your chance to tell your story or show off your pictures about your team, your school or your favorite player. If you'd like to join The Gazette's growing list of high school contributors, contact J.R. Ogden at jr.ogden@thegazette.com

By Ryan Milke, Xavier senior

CEDAR RAPIDS - Behind every great team, there is a group of great athletes who may not get recognized like the stars, but play a key role in a team's success.

The girls' basketball team at Xavier recently concluded its  season at the state tournament, finishing  with a record of 18-6. Seniors Nicole Noonan and Katelyn Winker  worked hard all year helping the team reach the state tournament.

“It is fun to go in during the game, but it also fun to cheer on my teammates," Noonan said.  "Knowing that you worked hard in practice to make the starters better is a great feeling. It makes us better and the starters better as well.”

Other players on the team who helped the Saints  reach success are juniors Alli Chorzempa, Ashley Stulken and Lisa Boomgarden and sophomores Hannah Chute, Maddie Bertsch and Hayley Deutmeyer. All of these players may get some time in the games, but they are not the ones who are recognized as much as the starters.

“Being part of the team, you can't be a ‘me' guy," Winker said. "It's all about attitude, showing up to practices and the games with a smile on my face and always being ready for my number to be called. A win for the team is not only a win for those who play, but it's a win for the bench, the coaches and the managers, as well."

Two other members of the team are senior managers Sara Gross and Ashley Dostal. Gross and Dostal help the Saints during the games. Their responsibilities include filling up the water bottles, taking stats  and anything else the coaches need.

“Having a deep bench is very important for the pace that we play with," Xavier Coach Tom Lilly said. "We have to have a deep bench in order to keep the game at our up-tempo pace. A team isn't just made up of five players. We wouldn't be able to do what we do without the help of our bench."

The boys' basketball team also has members who aren't recognized as much as the starters.

The boys' completed their season with a record of 10-13. Scout team players are all juniors -  Patrick Mullin, Ben Breitbach, Greg Foxhoven, Robbie Thinnes, Zach Brown, Reggie Schulte and Corbin Woods. These players received little playing time this year, as well,  but they know  they are a key aspect to the team and will be looking forward to next year when they will play a bigger role for the Saints.

Basketball is not the only sport with behind the scenes athletes. Junior varsity wrestlers worked to not only make themselves better, but help the varsity wrestlers get better. These wrestlers may not have wrestled at every meet, but they practice every day with the varsity wrestlers.

Across the board it is clear that while teams may be good, it is the scout team that is the backbone of  great teams. These athletes are the ones willing to put in the hard work needed in order to make the program successful.