Senior Taiya Baraka is a multi-student athlete at Struthers High School.
Baraka has been playing basketball since she was seven and has always played guard. The senior’s favorite part about basketball is defense; she loves to steal the ball and lock the other girls up so they can’t dribble. But for Baraka, basketball hasn’t always been easy with having six different coaches throughout her career, with the latest coach being Coach Hritz.
Despite all the different coaches and struggles, the basketball player still loves it.
“I love the feeling I get when I play; it’s like a release,” says Baraka.
Getting a new coach for Baraka’s senior year has been an easy adjustment for her. The basketball player says that if you’re a good coach, there aren’t going to be any problems. Coach Hritz has a very different coaching style compared to Baraka’s former coaches, but she enjoys his coaching.
Baraka is excited for the remainder of the season because Coach Hritz teaches her a lot.
“He is very experienced; he has been coaching girls for over 40 years,” says Baraka.
The basketball player says with a new coach and somewhat of a new team, the start of their season has been good. The senior says the girls basketball team gets along well and plays well together. Baraka and the rest of the players hope for a winning record.
If the basketball girls stay focused and work hard, they will have a winning season.
“We just need to stay focused and keep our heads in the game at all times no matter what,” says Baraka.
