VYPE: How has the Broken Bow team been preparing for the upcoming season, both individually and as a group?
Raylee Gaston: The girls and I have been working extremely hard both before and after school. We have been conditioning and putting in the necessary work in the gym.
VYPE: What do you think are the team’s strengths this year, and how do you plan to leverage them during games?
RG: I feel like our strength comes from our speed and our hearts. We are a group of quick, fast girls, which helps us tremendously on both defense and offense, and we have a lot of fight in us. We don’t give up on ourselves.
VYPE: Are there any new players on the team this season who have stood out in practices or training sessions?
RG: We have a couple of returning sophomores who have been working hard and should benefit the team a great deal, Aubrey Hightower and Katie Rogers. An incoming freshman that I look forward to seeing what all she can do, and she adds a little height to the team is Tyson Woolsey.
VYPE: How would you describe the team’s playing style and strategy for the upcoming season?
RG: We are not necessarily the tallest girls, so we have to rely on our speed and quickness often. Our quick defense hopefully keeps them out of the middle, so it really shouldn’t matter how much taller they are.
VYPE: What specific goals has the team set for itself this year, and how do you plan to achieve them?
RG: Our ultimate goal is to play at the big house, but our daily goal is to work our hardest, do our very best and to be each other’s biggest cheerleaders both on and off the court.
VYPE: How has the team chemistry developed during the off-season, and do you think it will positively impact your performance on the court?
RG: Our team chemistry is solid. There is a noticeable amount of respect the girls have for each other and for our coaches. Off the court, we may have different interests, but on the court, we become one unit encouraging each other, working for each other and pushing each other to give our very best.
VYPE: Are there any particular games or opponents on the schedule that the team is especially looking forward to or preparing for?
RG: We are always looking forward to the Red River Rivalry. I think it will be a good match-up this year, and I look forward to competing against each other.
VYPE: As a team captain or leader, how do you motivate and encourage your teammates, especially during challenging moments in games?
RG: As a team captain or leader, I try to motivate others by example. I don’t always do things perfectly, but I always give my coaches my all, and I always work hard. Also, when a teammate is struggling or has a bad day, I remind them, “Today does not define who we are.” I have struggled at times to have a short-term memory myself, but a short-term memory is so important in sports. We mess up, and that’s okay. It really is.
VYPE: What lessons did the team learn from the previous season, and how do you plan to apply them to improve this year?
RG: Until this year, I feel like we have always been a young team. As a young team, I think we have lost some games by intimidation alone. We have had games that we should have won, but before we believed we could, it was too late. Now, several of us are entering our junior and senior years, and now we know what we are capable of. We know we should win. Confidence brings with it many possibilities, and I think we finally know our worth. It’s truly exciting.
