Your future, our focus
BY SETH ROMSA TRIBUNE SPORTS WRITER
Courtesy of the Powell Tribune
After a down year in attendance in 2022, the Trapper and Panther boys’ basketball camp saw more than 50 kids from around the area participate over four days at Powell High School to improve their skills and compete.
Kids from grades four-12 came out for the camp, with PHS head boys’ coach Mike Heny alongside junior varsity boys’ coach Waleryan Wisniewski seizing the opportunity to teach the elementary-aged kids.
“It’s always nice to get the gym full and teach the game we love. The more kids we can have in here this week the better we feel about it,” Heny said. “I really enjoy focusing on those younger kids and building good habits. A lot of them are newer to the game and the team concept part.”
Heny said he enjoys coaching the younger kids, showing them what it’s like to be a Panther while sparking an interest in the game.
Coaching alongside the PHS coaches were Northwest men’s coach Andy Ward, NWC Athletic Director Brian Erickson, and two of Ward’s returning players in Mack Page and Will Hemme.
“It’s been fantastic to work with coach Ward this year. He’s been at it a long time and his experience is invaluable,” Heny said. “I really enjoy our kids being able to benefit from him being here. It’s nice for those kids to hear a different voice other than mine.”
Heny said he was able to have quite a few of his high school kids in attendance at the camp, but was unable to get a few key players to the camp due to prior commitments.
“Marshall [Lewis] has been our lone senior through the summer at everything,” Heny said. “He has become our leader this summer with those younger kids. Having him here and some of those other guys it’s really important for us to get those kids in for a week like this to build those skills we rely on during the season.”
Summer for the PHS team continues with open gyms, camps and opportunities to play and improve. The Panthers are heading into the 2023-24 season with high hopes after returning nearly every player from last year’s roster.