Katie Berman
Writer '18
Jared Schwartz, a student of the current Class of 2017, made headlines in the beginning of the Winter season when he happened to be the only senior on the Great Neck North Boys Varsity Basketball Team. However, he did not choose to let the pressure of this jeopardize his performances. Even though the experience was strange to Schwartz, he stated that he was used to playing with a vast majority of juniors, back on JV and Varsity in past years, as well as the Varsity Soccer team.
Schwartz viewed it as a cool experience to be able to give all the juniors advice on “junior year things”, such as whether to take the SAT or the ACT, and what classes to enroll in next year, when they become seniors, and he will venture on into college. Schwartz’s teammates perceived him as a father figure, due to the abundance of advice he always has on hand for them.
Schwartz's last game hit home for him, coming just short of the goal to make the playoffs. Unfazed, Schwartz ended his career on a proud note. As he walked off the court for the very last time, he felt heartbroken knowing he will never play high school basketball again. The senior remarked that he will take many aspects away from his teammates and coaches as he heads on his journey to college; He has learned not only how to be a leader, but how to deal with adversity. Jared will carry with him the countless memories he has made for the rest of his life; his athletic career has taught him what it means to be a teammate and partner in something and what it means to have your friends back.
His biggest supporter is his father, who made it a priority to attend every single one of his son’s games, a quality that was clear to his teammates. Schwartz lives by Wayne Gretzky’s well known quote, “You miss 100% of the shots you never take,” applying this quote to every basketball and soccer game he has ever, and will ever, play in his life.
Writer '18
Jared Schwartz, a student of the current Class of 2017, made headlines in the beginning of the Winter season when he happened to be the only senior on the Great Neck North Boys Varsity Basketball Team. However, he did not choose to let the pressure of this jeopardize his performances. Even though the experience was strange to Schwartz, he stated that he was used to playing with a vast majority of juniors, back on JV and Varsity in past years, as well as the Varsity Soccer team.
Schwartz viewed it as a cool experience to be able to give all the juniors advice on “junior year things”, such as whether to take the SAT or the ACT, and what classes to enroll in next year, when they become seniors, and he will venture on into college. Schwartz’s teammates perceived him as a father figure, due to the abundance of advice he always has on hand for them.
Schwartz's last game hit home for him, coming just short of the goal to make the playoffs. Unfazed, Schwartz ended his career on a proud note. As he walked off the court for the very last time, he felt heartbroken knowing he will never play high school basketball again. The senior remarked that he will take many aspects away from his teammates and coaches as he heads on his journey to college; He has learned not only how to be a leader, but how to deal with adversity. Jared will carry with him the countless memories he has made for the rest of his life; his athletic career has taught him what it means to be a teammate and partner in something and what it means to have your friends back.
His biggest supporter is his father, who made it a priority to attend every single one of his son’s games, a quality that was clear to his teammates. Schwartz lives by Wayne Gretzky’s well known quote, “You miss 100% of the shots you never take,” applying this quote to every basketball and soccer game he has ever, and will ever, play in his life.