WICHITA, Kan.—
For the Trinity Academy Knights, this basketball was a very successful year for both the boys and girls. The girls’ team went 15-6, the best record in school history. According to the team and the coach, the main reason they did so well came down to the team’s chemistry and willingness to work.
“I got to play with my best friends this season,” said junior Madison Clinton. “Winning was fun, but winning with my best friends made it so much better. I learned that it’s all about chemistry.”
Junior Kristin Miller agrees with Clinton about the team’s dynamic.
“We had such an amazing team. I don’t think we would’ve done as well if we didn’t love each other so much,” said Miller. “I’m so glad I got to play on a team with my best friends.”
“I’ve worked with a lot of teams, and this was probably the closest group I’ve ever coached as a team,” said head coach Brett Gunderson. “I learned a lot from watching them and the way interacted with each other.”
Aside from their tight friendships, this team was determined to do better than any team before.
“We worked hard, brought it every day, and had great attitudes,” said Miller.
The coach thinks the same thing about the girls.
“I’m very proud of them. They set out a lot of goals this year and achieved a lot of the goals they set,” said Gunderson. “They got better every day and were a really hardworking team.”
As for the players, the coach is what helped them get such a good record.
“Gunderson is such a great coach,” said Miller. “He pushed us and I don’t think we would’ve gotten where we were without him.”
For the boys, they had just as a successful season as the girls. They went 16-6, along with being the Central Plains League Champions. The team consisted mostly of sophomores and juniors, but the Knights managed to make it work.
“I think with our young team we took huge steps,” said sophomore Matthew Jones. “Seniors Ryan Miller and Malachi Newman really helped us young sophomores and juniors.”
Despite only two seniors, the Knights grew much more than expected.
“We came a long way from a young team, and people expected us to not be good,” said senior Ryan Miller. “We were projected as sixth in the league, but we were first.”
“I think they’ve just done an outstanding job,” said head boys coach Steve Miller. “I was always so proud of them. It was just a privilege to be around these young men.”
“They will have a really good, young team next year,” said Ryan Miller.
