Whether it be during a game on the court or as they effortlessly saunter down the hallways of Wheatley in their suits and ties, I guarantee that you have witnessed the remarkable ability of the 2023-2024 Boys Varsity Basketball team.
Currently with a record of 6-5, these young gentlemen always manage to radiate positive sportsmanship towards one another as well as their opponents, regardless of the outcomes of their matches. This year’s team captains include Nate Song, Murtaza Dogar, and Jordan Tauber. These three seniors consistently manage to revive courage to both the team and the stands.
However, some may be wondering where these players developed such impeccable talent and skill. The mastermind behind the success of the team has been thanks to the highly revered Coach Slater.
Here is what Coach Slater had to say about his coaching experience at Wheatley so far:
Q: What inspired you to pursue being the coach of a basketball team?
A: I come from a family of coaches, my dad was a coach, my brother in law is a high school basketball coach, and I played basketball when I was younger in high school. The three most important people in my life are probably my father, brother-in-law, and my high school coach. The ways they inspired me, and the lessons they taught me, made me say I want to do the same for young women and men.
Q: What is your secret to keeping the team motivated and constantly prepared to overcome their obstacles? What are some techniques that you have used to encourage them?
A: I think trying to instill confidence in them and trying to prepare them as best as we can. The more confident you become, the better prepared you are. Practices are made to be intense, I’m demanding and I try to make them feel uncomfortable as much as I can because when it comes to game time, they will be a little more relaxed.
I think that to get them to understand they have to work hard, and they might think that they work hard, but their working hard and my working hard sometimes aren’t the same. So sometimes you have to learn as a coach which players you can push buttons with, and certains might need a little more hugs, and some players might need a little kick in the pants.
Q: How do you use basketball as a tool to teach your team about the real world?
A: I try to coach my guys here at Wheatley not for the present day, but for 10 or 20 years from now. I’m big on teaching life lessons because everywhere you go, you are on a team, whether you are at home, in school, at work, or on the basketball team. If you guys don’t learn to work together, you’re not going to perform well on the basketball court.
Q: Why do you think that it is important to promote ideas like teamwork and leadership?
A: I think to be successful in life you need leaders. Some people are okay at following, but I chose to lead because I enjoy setting examples. I enjoy the pressure of leading and devising game plans and schemes to get to put these guys in the best possible position.
It’s not to win games but to be successful young men in life, and I think that a lot of the things that we do on the basketball court pertains to life, whether if a teammate falls on the floor you run over and pick them up. If somebody does something well, give them a hug, give them a high five, if they are not doing well, they still need that hug and they still need that high five. So I think it’s all about promoting teamwork and passion, and I think it’s okay to be demanding.
I think as kids get older they think things get easier, but they don’t. It’s just if you are able to handle hard, better, and that’s a hard concept for people to understand. You might think each grade gets harder and harder, and it is supposed to get hard, it shouldn’t get easier, but some people think it gets easier just because you learn how to handle things better. So you’re handling hard much better, and that’s why people have misconceptions of how things get easier in life, while things shouldn’t.
Q: How do you feel you have changed the games and culture at Wheatley?
A: I don’t think I’ve changed the game at all, I just think that I introduced values that were taught to me. This is my third year here, my time here has been great and I’ve loved the guys, but I don’t know if I’ve changed the culture. I’m just trying to establish important life lessons and things that would really make these guys, it’s all about driving them to success. Everybody’s definition of success is different, and just because if we don’t win every game this year, it doesn’t mean that we weren’t successful. If I taught certain kids certain lessons, then I did my job.
Q: What is the purpose of the quote of the day?
A: The reason why I put the quotes of the day is because each day we have goals that we want to establish and practice, whether our leadership wasn’t good last night, or our effort or attitude wasn’t good last night. I try to spend a lot of time, and they make fun of me all the time with my quotes, but I make them read those quotes because I take time finding quotes that are pertinent, not per individual, but for the whole team. I want them to have to really read it, I don’t ask them to memorize it, I just want them to understand it. If you don’t read it and I ask you and you don’t know what the quote is, I get insulted by that. I think having a quote of the day has been important to me since I’ve done it with every team that I’ve coached.
Representing our school for the 2023-2024 Varsity Boys Basketball Season is:
- Nate Song (Senior)
- Jordan Tauber (Senior)
- Murtaza Dogar (Senior)
- Austin Prince (Senior)
- Cooper Gold (Junior)
- Sarik Gupta (Junior)
- Reilly Lindenauer (Junior)
- Lawrence Brown (Sophomore)
- Elias Habib (Sophomore)
- Aadi Patel (Freshman)
- Tim Song (Freshman)
- Sawyer Sparacia (Freshman)
- Chris Valle (Freshman)
And a special thank you to the managers and coaches this year:
- Noah Gorlewski (Senior)
- Olivia Marasco (Senior)
- Connor Quinn (Senior)
- Coach Leone
- Coach Slater
Despite the admirable efforts the players, managers, and coaches put into each game, their performance in each match also heavily depends on the crowd, aka The Troops. Peers from all grades come out to watch the games and bring liveliness through their constant cheering, chants, and witty posters. The immense support of the Wheatley community, from the students, parents, teachers, and Wildcat Athletic Foundation, has vastly changed the spirit of Wheatley Sports. So, make sure to attend the remaining games and contribute to the high attendance by joining the stands as they loudly roar with encouragement and flaunt their Wheatley pride!
