As snow is falling and the temperature drops below zero degrees, the 2018-2019 winter sports season is coming to an end.

“There’s an old saying: Winter is going to ask you what you’ve been doing all summer,” Head Coach of the Varsity Boys Basketball team, Kevin Snider said. “Meaning to be successful next year, we have to make sure as a team we stay together throughout the entire season.”

The 2018 season was tough for the boys as they lost to Latin in both games and over the course of the season, won as many games as they lost. “This year has had some bad but also some good,” junior Guard Oliver Manilow said. “We have a young team. I think next year we will see a great improvement in the team’s record… Next year expect a conference push.”

The girls’ basketball team had some great things about their season as well. “Both teams really grew this season,” sophomore Amelia Hoerr said about the Varsity and Junior Varsity teams. “We have four captains who really help bring everyone together and are really approachable if we have an issue.”

The girls season is a story of perseverance as there were many setbacks along the way. “A lot of players have been injured this year,” Varsity Captain Elisabye Slaymaker said. “I think we were able to handle the adversity. I was injured and Natalie Daskal was injured for a period of time. Regardless, we always supported teammates and showed up to games and practices.”

Additionally, the girls have become really close as a team. “I think we have really good chemistry,” Slaymaker said. “We have fewer players which helps us become closer as a team, and we know each other very well.”

“I always like to tell the story when I came in 2015 the girls’ team had half a season and did not finish it,” Athletic Director Bobby Starks said. “Now seeing how far we have come, it’s great for the girls program. Our team was great this year and we will have teams like this for years to come.”

Snider also sees the potential in the future of Parker basketball. “Our core team is going to be very strong next year if we stay together,” Snider said. “I think we are going to be an exceptional team next year, and we have a lot of guys that are going to grow in the offseason.”

The varsity team consists of nine sophomore and junior players which means there is a lot of room to improve next year. “A lot of people in the ISL haven’t realized how good we will be next year, and they will be surprised,” JV assistant coach, Jerrick McGee said.

Snider wants things to change in order for the program to have a successful 2019- 2020 season, and that starts with team chemistry. “We can’t have our players take two weeks off during Christmas break,” Snider says. “It takes away from our chemistry.”

Additionally, Parker boys basketball saw some great flashes of potential in 2018. “We have guys that can shoot the ball really well,” Snider said. “Notably, Gabe Rothschild has been shooting well this season. He hit a game-winning shot against North Shore Country day back in December.”

Alongside the basketball season, the indoor track team has been prepping for their spring season since January. “We have a new coach with our middle school head moving up to coach the upper school team,” Starks said. “Coach Minnie has been great and she has helped create a pipeline for our middle school program by helping them go from 10 kids to 30 kids running track. It’s exciting.”

“We have had more track runners in this season than we have ever had before,” Starks said. “It makes the transition from indoor to outdoor track more exciting.”