Making History: Glens Falls

Ten years ago, I was a member of a historic basketball team at Jamestown High School. A class AA school with approximately 2,500 students, I played with and against some of the best talent New York State had to offer. While my teammates were busy throwing crazy lobs, catching dunks and/or locking down future NBA prospects, recovering from an injury, I spent most of my time cheering them on from the sidelines. To my surprise, I found my name in the paper just as often, if not more, than they did.

In retrospect, I learned some of the most valuable lessons of my life on the basketball court. The importance of hard work, the value of team work and the realization that no matter how much time/effort you put into something, there’s always someone trying to take your spot. Forever grateful for the lessons I learned, and the opportunities I was presented with, nothing is more valuable to me than discovering the power of the pen.

One of the best memories I have from my high school basketball career is participating in the 2011 New York State Championship Game. For the first time in school history, our team made it through a tough regional bracket and advanced to the state tournament in Glens Falls, NY. The night before our first game, our coach came into our room and noticed that I was lying on the floor. When he asked why I wasn’t in bed, I responded, “Don’t worry coach, I’m fine. My boys need their rest for tomorrow.” With a great big smile on his face, he turned his back to us and walked out of the door.

The next day, moments before the biggest game of our lives, one of our star players (who later went on to play professionally) couldn’t find his shorts. Understandably so, the entire locker room was in dismay. Thinking nothing of it, I immediately changed back into my warm-up attire and gave him mine. Little did I know, such a simple gesture would have such a lasting effect on me.

Although we ultimately came up short and lost to Mt. Vernon High School in the New York State Championship Game, my coach pulled me aside and said that a reporter wanted to speak with me. To my surprise, he mentioned that he heard about what I did the night before in the hotel room, he saw how selfless I was in the locker room and he was aware of some of the sacrifices I made throughout the regular season. Eager to learn more, he asked if he could interview me.

As our season flashed before my eyes, I told the reporter how much this experience really meant to me. I told him how no one believed in us… Consumed by emotion, I told him how hard we worked to get here. Most importantly, I told him how proud I was of my teammates.

The next day, I woke up to countless emails, text messages and missed calls. As I made my way to the kitchen, I noticed an enlarged image of myself at the free-throw line was taking up the entire front page of the sports section. Above it, the headline read: “Character is Taylor-made for JHS senior.” And that’s when it hit me…

I always knew that I was a good writer. Numerous times I was told by my peers that I’d probably end up in some sort of English/writing career. For whatever reason, I never really put much thought into it. But after that article, a switch went off in my brain. All of a sudden, story-telling was what I wanted, and needed, to do.

Regardless of occupation, one of my primary goals in life has always been to make a difference. In hindsight, the pen was the tool, and journalism, the vehicle, by which I set out to accomplish that. With that experience tucked away in the back of my mind, I went on to graduate from St. Bonaventure University in 2015 with a degree in journalism and mass communication. Shortly after, I landed a job as a sports reporter with my hometown newspaper.

As I think about my purpose, I immediately think of an award I received later that season: The Coaches Award. To my recollection, the Coaches Award goes to a player that exemplifies extraordinary leadership, commitment and character. It’s given to a person who puts the team first, leads by example and assists others before seeking glory on their own. With a great big smile on my face, I’m proud to say not much has changed. Since adolescence, that’s what it’s always been about for me.