As the Wisconsin winter grows near, bringing its cold weather, its snow, slush, and inevitable streak of cars in the ditches, hoopsters look forward to the excitement of a new basketball season.
With the end of football, volleyball, and soccer comes the start of basketball, wrestling, and other iconic winter activities such as skiing and the holiday season. Seniors Jaren Alfuth and Spencer Cohen along with junior Parker Soulsby, all members of the Amherst men’s basketball team, share their thoughts on the approaching basketball season.
Starting new things brings new excitement, and these players are looking forward to this season. Cohen, a man of few words and many smiles, talked about how he looks forward to playing with Jaren. Soulsby says he’s looking forward to playing with a good group of guys who will all come together to dedicate themselves and put in the hard work. Alfuth is excited to step into a leadership role on the team and to play his final year with Cohen.
As the years pass, the seniors graduate and leave. This last graduating class was a special one, supplying four starters and three rotation players off the bench. These three all echoed the same things, it hurts losing them, but they’re looking forward to opportunities for players to step up and fill spots, though they worry about the lack of experience with only one starter returning in Cohen.
With every season comes a set of personal goals and these players are no exception. Cohen wants to, specifically, “Get buckets,” and become a better leader for the underclassman. Alfuth is striving for an All-Conference title, to raise his game and be recognized by more than just Amherst. Soulsby looks to just have fun and improve for his own senior year. Their heads are alike when thinking about the goals for the team: Finish with a winning record, strive for the playoffs, and bring high energy in practices and games to build a good team bond. They hope to create an environment where everybody is helping everybody improve.
Age brings maturity and these three have words of wisdom. Soulsby quotes Mark Lusic, saying, “Don’t wait to be good.” Alfuth tells underclassmen to, “Don’t do too much,” and to play as a team. Cohen choruses the others with his words of have fun and to “keep grinding.”
As the days go by, and the season fast encroaches, all look forward to watching Jaren, Spencer, and Parker lead the Amherst men’s basketball team starting on November 28 with their first game away at Wild Rose.
