Player Profile: Whiteoak Wildcats
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
This year, the Whiteoak Wildcats have just one senior, but with the help from some of their junior classmates, the Wildcats are looking to get back and even exceed what they accomplished last season.
The senior is Wesley Stratton, and some of his junior teammates include Gage Carraher, Luke Taggert and Zach Docter. This group of four, along with Doc Seip (who was unavailable for the interview and photo), will be looked at as the leaders this year for a Wildcat team that one season ago reached the district finals.
As they enter the 2011-12 campaign, they looked back at how it all started for them.
"I stared when I was younger, playing pee-wee basketball," Stratton said. "I played at Bright Local."
"I began in the fourth grade at Lynchburg-Clay," Taggert said.
Both Docter and Carraher began their playing days in the third grade.
Stratton, who is playing his final year at Whiteoak, spoke about why he continued to play basketball.
"I really have a love for the game," he said. "I've always liked all the people I've played basketball with, so I just kept on playing. I like traveling on the road, especially when we went to OU last season … that was fun."
As for the three juniors?
"Like he (Stratton) said, I've just loved the game," Taggert said. "I just want to stay in shape and play my best."
"I've always liked playing and I've always been a part of a good team, which makes it fun," Docter said.
"I like just being competitive," Carraher said. "Being competitive with everybody … that just always makes it fun. Just getting to play out here with everybody, getting to play with your friends … that's why I keep playing."
This group is already a part of Whiteoak history as they've been a part of sectional titles, played in some classic games and last year, they did get to play at Ohio University at the Convocation Center, where they won and lost a game in the district tournament.
These players respect the history of what comes with playing basketball in Mowrystown.
"Whiteoak basketball means everything to me," Stratton said. "It’s about going out on the court and having fun. It’s about going out, playing hard, giving it all you got and playing your best."
"I think of dedication and hard work when I think about Whiteoak basketball," Taggert said. "It's about having fun. I remember watching the older guys growing up and going to watch them play in the Final Four, and I wanted to be there someday."
"A lot of running and getting into shape comes with playing basketball here," Docter said. "I’ve watched this team since I was young, and being able to play now means a lot."
"Winning, dedication and hard work," Carraher said when asked what Whiteoak basketball meant to him. “Just being at Whiteoak … when you play here, you want your name on the wall with all the other teams who are up there. That is important."
Stratton, who is headed into his senior year, is looking forward to one thing more than any other as he takes the court one last year for Whiteoak.
"I'm looking forward to most of last year's team coming back. We lost two really good seniors from last year, but other than that, we have a pretty good team back," Stratton said. "Having most everyone back is exciting."
The juniors are looking forward to a few things themselves as they are now upperclassmen and some of the leaders.
"Its’ all about just being good leaders," Taggert said. "It’s about coaching the underclassmen."
"Having others look up to you is always nice," Carraher said. "Helping them out is important for our success."
The expectations are high for this group.
"I expect to go back to OU," Stratton said. "I want us to go further."
Playing at the Convocation Center at Ohio University was a memory that brought a smile to the players’ faces as it is still a big focus this year as well.
"It's amazing," Carraher said.
"It was the best feeling I've ever had playing basketball," Taggert said.
Docter was injured last season, so he didn't get the opportunity to play at the Convo. The memory of seeing his teammates play on the court as he watched from the bench has become a driving force for him this year.
"I missed out on the second half of the season, so I just missed playing," Docter said. "I want us to go back to OU so I can play there too. Having to watch my teammates play and I couldn't was still fun, but sort of miserable because I wanted to be out there so bad."
This group has put in a lot of hard work this offseason.
"It's been tough, but all the hard work will pay off for us as a team," Stratton said. "It's a lot different being a senior this year … I was always being pushed and never really pushed anybody, so it is a lot different this year."[[In-content Ad]]
The senior is Wesley Stratton, and some of his junior teammates include Gage Carraher, Luke Taggert and Zach Docter. This group of four, along with Doc Seip (who was unavailable for the interview and photo), will be looked at as the leaders this year for a Wildcat team that one season ago reached the district finals.
As they enter the 2011-12 campaign, they looked back at how it all started for them.
"I stared when I was younger, playing pee-wee basketball," Stratton said. "I played at Bright Local."
"I began in the fourth grade at Lynchburg-Clay," Taggert said.
Both Docter and Carraher began their playing days in the third grade.
Stratton, who is playing his final year at Whiteoak, spoke about why he continued to play basketball.
"I really have a love for the game," he said. "I've always liked all the people I've played basketball with, so I just kept on playing. I like traveling on the road, especially when we went to OU last season … that was fun."
As for the three juniors?
"Like he (Stratton) said, I've just loved the game," Taggert said. "I just want to stay in shape and play my best."
"I've always liked playing and I've always been a part of a good team, which makes it fun," Docter said.
"I like just being competitive," Carraher said. "Being competitive with everybody … that just always makes it fun. Just getting to play out here with everybody, getting to play with your friends … that's why I keep playing."
This group is already a part of Whiteoak history as they've been a part of sectional titles, played in some classic games and last year, they did get to play at Ohio University at the Convocation Center, where they won and lost a game in the district tournament.
These players respect the history of what comes with playing basketball in Mowrystown.
"Whiteoak basketball means everything to me," Stratton said. "It’s about going out on the court and having fun. It’s about going out, playing hard, giving it all you got and playing your best."
"I think of dedication and hard work when I think about Whiteoak basketball," Taggert said. "It's about having fun. I remember watching the older guys growing up and going to watch them play in the Final Four, and I wanted to be there someday."
"A lot of running and getting into shape comes with playing basketball here," Docter said. "I’ve watched this team since I was young, and being able to play now means a lot."
"Winning, dedication and hard work," Carraher said when asked what Whiteoak basketball meant to him. “Just being at Whiteoak … when you play here, you want your name on the wall with all the other teams who are up there. That is important."
Stratton, who is headed into his senior year, is looking forward to one thing more than any other as he takes the court one last year for Whiteoak.
"I'm looking forward to most of last year's team coming back. We lost two really good seniors from last year, but other than that, we have a pretty good team back," Stratton said. "Having most everyone back is exciting."
The juniors are looking forward to a few things themselves as they are now upperclassmen and some of the leaders.
"Its’ all about just being good leaders," Taggert said. "It’s about coaching the underclassmen."
"Having others look up to you is always nice," Carraher said. "Helping them out is important for our success."
The expectations are high for this group.
"I expect to go back to OU," Stratton said. "I want us to go further."
Playing at the Convocation Center at Ohio University was a memory that brought a smile to the players’ faces as it is still a big focus this year as well.
"It's amazing," Carraher said.
"It was the best feeling I've ever had playing basketball," Taggert said.
Docter was injured last season, so he didn't get the opportunity to play at the Convo. The memory of seeing his teammates play on the court as he watched from the bench has become a driving force for him this year.
"I missed out on the second half of the season, so I just missed playing," Docter said. "I want us to go back to OU so I can play there too. Having to watch my teammates play and I couldn't was still fun, but sort of miserable because I wanted to be out there so bad."
This group has put in a lot of hard work this offseason.
"It's been tough, but all the hard work will pay off for us as a team," Stratton said. "It's a lot different being a senior this year … I was always being pushed and never really pushed anybody, so it is a lot different this year."[[In-content Ad]]