Community Corner
Athleticism and Time Management Made Hoover Girls' Basketball Successful On and Off the Court
The Hoover High School girls' basketball team recently was honored for high GPAs, and two seniors tell you how they were able to maintain good grades and success on the court
Coach Tim Vick's first year as head coach of the Lady Vikings basketball team was very successful. Vick's squad finished with a 19-4 record and made it to the District finals.
His Lady Vikings recently picked up a prestigious award sponsored by the Ohio Army National Guard, The Ohio State University and the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association.
"Of the 800-plus girls' basketball teams in Ohio, Hoover was one of five teams in the state to have a collective GPA of 4.0 and the only school north of Columbus," Vick said.
Find out what's happening in North Cantonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Seniors and former basketball captains Hannah Romano and Sam Pavkov agreed being a student athlete can be taxing, but success boils down to one thing: time management.
Romano said there were times that she could have watched TV instead of doing homework or studying, but she knew better. And her parents, who have been a big encouragement to her, recognize that school still should come first, too.
Find out what's happening in North Cantonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
"They're proud of me in basketball, but they're more proud of the grades I get," she said.
Pavkov said balancing school and athletics has gotten easier as she's gone through school. She makes time to study when she needs to, and the rest comes second. Putting grades first is something she learned from former coach Paul Wackerly.
"Coach Wackerly instilled that in me," she said.
Meanwhile, Vick is already looking ahead to the 2011-12 season and the task of replacing seven graduating seniors. The off-season is already under way.
"We recently began open gym on Tuesdays and Thursdays," Vick said. "In the summer we are going to shootouts at Muskingum, Youngstown State, University of Akron, Olentangy High School near Columbus and we are attending Team Camp at the University of North Carolina."
In addition to all that, Vick will be conducting his summer camp for incoming third- to eighth-grade girls from June 13 to June 16. For more information on the summer camp, call Vick at 330-284-5320.
The second annual Lady Vikings golf outing is scheduled for Aug. 13.
"It's shaping up to be a very busy summer," Vick said. "That's how we like it."