While it inevitably becomes clear during athletic seasons that some teams are without a prayer, Grace Academy will never be one.
Throughout their season, the Christian academys basketball team opens practice with prayer, and the spiritual connection buoys the team through the good times and the bad, said girls coach Rick Holt.
Its fantastic. Its kind of a glue, when times get tough, its a glue that we can rely on to bond the team together and to remember sportsmanship and other goals. Were representing a Christian school out there, rather than just a scoreboard, Holt said.
Holt credits the grounded perspective for reminding the team theyre there to have fun and not just win games. It helps build chemistry among the players as well, which should be helpful for a squad that lost six varsity players five to graduation, and another to the Stanwood Spartans.
The only thing the team is sure of this year is its youth two of the Eagles most veteran players are sophomores, guard Sarah Wennersten and forward Lauren Krumm.
A junior, Sarah Monteith, played a little varsity last year as well. Beyond that, Holt plans to spread court time around until the players abilities become clearer.
Its going to be a learning experience for all of us. Whether were going to be a running team or a team that sets it up, we have to determine that as the season goes on, Holt said. Well have all kinds of combinations, up to 10 players.
The nice thing is everyone, theyre just great kids. Theyre fun to be around and the effort they put out at practice is great. Theres no bad attitudes or anything, he added.
The Grace Academy girls will have their work cut out for them. The Eagles finished fifth in their six-team conference last season, and Holt said he expects many of their rivals, including the first-place Lummi team, to return a number of starters.
Still, he describes the league competition as friendly, and the Eagles as high-spirited.
I think the most important thing is just having the kids focus on just having fun, play as hard as you can. So work hard, but have fun too, focus on the fun part, he said.