Girls Basketball: A Unique Leadership Dynamic

STORY JAYDEN TRAN

PHOTO EMIKO (EMI) ESSMILLER

The SPHS Girls Basketball team is recognized on campus for dominating opponents on the court. Just last year, the team reached the Division II CIF quarterfinals before losing to the Brentwood Eagles. A large factor in the success of the team lies on the leadership from the captains. Unlike most sports teams on campus who have one or two captains, the Girls Basketball team at SPHS has a three-captain leadership system.

The team’s captains for the 2022-2023 season are seniors Lotis Shoun and Peyton Washington-Gauzer and junior Dylan Tse. The three were selected this year by their coach for having the most experience and playing on varsity the longest. The coach of the team has implemented this system for the last few years on campus.

“Dylan is the bridge between our coach and the team, letting us know the timing and dates for both our practices and games,” senior captain Shoun said. “Peyton is our cheerleader and keeps the energy high while I act as a support system for everyone on the team.”

Having three captains creates a unique dynamic for players on the team. Unlike teams that have one captain, having multiple captains makes the positions less coveted and more accessible for players. The team is able to work together without challenges and the typical competition that comes with being named a captain.

“I like the three captain system that we have in place,” senior captain Peyton Washington said. “Someone is always there to help and there are multiple confirmations and assurances. It’s nice to have several people to rely on and I appreciated it when I was a sophomore and junior so leading the team now is even more enjoyable.

Delegating the captain’s typical job of supporting and communicating between all three captains allows the trio to work alongside one another to benefit the team.

“After being scolded by our coach one time, the three of us came together to brainstorm the perfect things to say to our team as encouragement,” junior captain Dylan

Tse said. “Moving forward, we would like to keep up our chemistry that allows us to work well together.”

For players who look up to the captains, having three captains allows athletes to perform in a more supportive culture. There is a steadier leadership committee as a result of having a trio of captains as opposed to one or two individuals having all the power. This system provides a more stable and environment for players on the team.

“I think the leadership this year is very natural. It was kind of unspoken who would be taking charge this year,” junior Olivia Alfonso said. “All of them are both skilled and experienced, and they bring so much in terms of energy and positive examples for the rest of us all to follow. Having three captains makes it easier because everyone on our team has one person on the captain team that they can go to.”

The trio of leaders has paid off for the SPHS Girls Basketball team having won all eight of their league games and currently standing in first place in the league.

The SPHS Girls Basketball team continue to shine in their season, and will be playing the San Marino Titans on Thursday, Feb. 2.