This Jan., White Station held the annual basketball homecoming festivities as always. Among the court of nominees, athletes took their place on the basketball court, not to play the game, but to be recognized for their school spirit.
Athletes play a huge role in building community at White Station. As both football and basketball homecomings roll around, athletes of fall and spring sports are celebrated for their efforts. David Johnson (11) anticipates his role on the court as both a basketball player and an escort for the homecoming court this year.
“I’m actually nervous,” Johnson said. “I get nervous for basketball games but it’s going to be a lot different ‘cause it’s not like I’m performing, it’s almost like a presentation so it’s a different kind of nervous.”
Alongside the homecoming court, the basketball players are also presented and are expected to dress in their sportswear. During the pep rally, while the rest of the court is in formal attire, Johnson will be in his jersey. His participation on the team will be praised alongside his fellow players, whom he’s grown closer with over the years.
“[My favorite thing about basketball is] probably the friends I’ve made,” Johnson said. “Especially in high school, the high school team, just all the friends… if you’re on the basketball team … it’s just a whole friend group that you have to support you no matter what.”
Of the many aspects that come together to build the high school basketball player experience, Johnson gets a kick out of competing.
“I just like the feeling of competitiveness,” Johnson said. “Being able to have the satisfaction of winning, and then even the satisfaction of losing then winning, and just the competitive nature of the sport.”
Hailing from the sidelines of the football stadium to the center of the basketball court, Nadia Robinson (12) was nominated for senior homecoming court. Robinson was involved in both football and basketball cheer during middle school but had to choose one or the other when she approached high school. So, she landed on football cheer.
“From a childhood standpoint, this is like what you would see on TV in the teen movies,” Robinson said. “You would always see the pretty cheerleaders going out, cheering on their team, even if we don’t win all the time, it’s still a pretty good experience.”
Although Robinson will be presented as a nominee during the basketball homecoming pep rally, she is typically accustomed to performing with her fellow cheerleaders. Cheerleaders are called to the senior gym early so that they can arrange the mats and any last-minute preparations.
“Me and my friends, we go get ready, make sure our hair is nice and then get our pom-poms,” Robinson said.” Usually, everybody’s really hyped, we’ll play music.”
Johnson and Robinson both play triple roles in the White Station community as athletes, students and homecoming representatives. Both athletes acknowledge the familial feeling of their teams, and the support from their fellow players or cheerleaders to continue to strive for excellence. Robinson describes the collective cheer team as a “sisterhood” and anticipates homecoming to be a bittersweet moment for her in the final days of her K-12 career.
“Being on the cheer team … I do a little bit more and it also makes me wanna do a little bit more,” Robinson said. “If we have some program that we’re hosting at school… they will probably invite the cheerleaders, so it has its privileges and it also has stuff that you’re able to do if you wanna be a part of your community more.”
