McNick’s winter sports teams started playing in November, which brings them to the middle of their seasons and moving towards tournaments. Coaches and players from the men’s and women’s basketball teams and men’s and women’s bowling teams shared their mid-season update, reflected on their first half, and offered a glimpse of they hope for the second half of the season.
Men’s Basketball
Coached by Tim Monahan, the Men’s Varsity Basketball Team is currently sitting 2nd in the Co-ed GCL behind Roger Bacon with an 8-2 record and 5-1 in the GCL. The team is averaging 48.2 points over the course of the season while only giving up an average of 42.2 points. The Rockets are led by captains Caden Conrad and Max Minardi and won against rivals Badin and Alter. “Our schedule is one of the toughest around the area and I take pride in that,” Monahan said.
“We have really improved since our first game and have done well in crunch time able to win close games. I still think we have a lot of room to improve and get better,” Monahan said.
Monahan added, “Executing a little better in our offense and getting back to rebounding the ball. We started off really well team rebounding…last few games have gotten away from it.”
Women’s Basketball
Coached by Greg Flammer, the Women’s Varsity basketball team is currently in 7th place in the GCL Co-ed with an overall record of 4-8, and 3-6 in the GCL. The team is allowing an average of 52.5 points while only averaging 41.2 points. According to the players, the team’s most challenging game was arguably Roger Bacon as they are a solid team all aground with a couple of Division I commits. With only six more games before heading into tournaments, the Lady Rockets continue to work toward success in practice.
Senior Captain Emma McSwigan said, “I think our team has improved on the amount of effort we put into the sport, whether it’s on or off the court. You can tell our team seems more together, we win and lose as a team.”
“I would love to see some more wins as we enter the second half of the season. But losing one of our starters (Kaycie Badylak) for the remainder of the season makes it a lot harder…my hope is to see some other girls step up and fill that starting role like I know they can,” McSwigan added.
Men’s and Women’s Bowling
The Men’s Varsity Bowling Team is 2-9 overall with a 2-7 record in the GCL, and the Women’s Varsity Bowling Team is 2-10 overall and 2-7 in the GCL. Both teams are coached by Brian Combs. The men’s team is currently 7th in the GCL and the women’s team is currently 6th in the GCL. Both teams are inexperienced as there were 17 seniors that graduated last year. However, Senior Rocket Bowler Liz Granlund is on track to receive first team all GCL honors.
“Since we have a very inexperienced squad this season becoming more consistent is our number one goal. We are getting better at making spares and stringing strikes together,” Combs said. “We are working hard to get the bowlers to learn where they have to stand and deliver the ball to produce more consistent shots and scores.”
“Adjusting to the changing COVID rules and differing regulations at each bowling center will continue to be a challenge and so will the adjustments we have to make to our roster because of the virus,” Combs added.
The McNicholas Milestone 