Being the only senior on a high school team comes with its ups and downs. At Joseph A. Foran High School girls basketball captain Summer Collins, the sole senior on the team.
During her four years on the team, Collins was able to learn a lot being on the court from teamwork and handwork. She is wanting to demonstrate new aspects like sportsmanship and leadership for the underclassmen and keep the positive energy going for her team like in her previous three years with past seniors.
She feels this is a bittersweet moment being her last time being able to have a high school basketball season. Collins wants to be able to focus on the time she gets with the team before it ends and be the best she can be.
Collins states, “I as an individual and we as a team plan to communicate and play hard throughout the whole season to be successful in the regular season and playoffs.”
Peers say Collins has the ability to connect with her teammates no matter what grade they are in. She keeps a positive attitude no matter what is happening whether she is playing on the court or sitting out.
Head coach Robert Asmussen has had the opportunity to be Collins’s coach for all four years of high school. Asmussen has seen her grow as an individual and as a teammate.
Asmussen is confident if he ever needs any position filled on the court, Collins is one of the go to girls for the coaches. He likes to think of Collins as a silent leader who leads by example.
Collins showed her coaches she could be a good leader last year, when the team and coaches needed to get all the senior night stuff ready.
Collins is able to keep her positive energy throughout the whole season and her commitment shows that you don’t have to be the best to still work hard.
Asmussen states, “I am super proud of Summer for continuing to step up and work hard for our team the last four years.”
Sophomore Shea Pangu has really been able to bond with Collins since her freshman year. Collins was an easy person to go to talk and ask for advice during practices and games.
Pangu thinks Collins had shown great leadership skills last year as a swing player. Collins was able to get the team chemistry up during practices and during games.
Pangu states, “We know she’s going to do great things.”
