These girls don’t just focus on the win; they work together to make a difference and bring
the team together. Captains Kaitlyn Geurink and Haylie Peterman are making an
outstanding impact on Hamilton girls’ varsity basketball this winter season.
Kaitlyn Geurink has grown up around basketball. It’s been a game she and her brothers
grew up loving during their childhood. She is always striving to improve her performance,
putting in work in and outside of practice, and during basketball season, this allows her to
enhance her presentation greatly.
Haylie Peterman started her basketball career at a young age. Her
mother signed her up for the Little Hawks, and she has had a
passion for basketball ever since. She treasures her bond with her
teammates, working constantly on constructing a successful
season while working to be the best version of herself as a captain.
̈I love all my teammates, I think our bond has strengthened
throughout the season ̈ -Kaitlyn shares
̈We made a huge strong connection over the past three years and I
really love playing with them ̈ – Haylie mentions.
Respect is an important value to Kaitlyn, during a game having to balance holding control
yet being a teammate can be difficult in some aspects. Respect allows the girls to see and
understand Kaitlyn’s words and consider them to make the best play.
Haylie Peterman values doing the small things to help everyone improve. She looks out for
everyone on the team so they all can get the best experience while continuing their career
forward. She believes this is a favorable characteristic to have as a leader and a teammate.
While Kaitlyn puts accountability over the girls, she stays selfless and thinks about the team
as a whole, not just concentrating on only herself. ̈A good captain looks like someone who is
not selfish and is willing to do things for the team overall ̈ – Kaitlyn explains.
During a game, pressure can greatly increase at a fast rate, what tends to help Haylie
Peterman is simply to tone everyone out and put all her attention
on what she is doing in the moment. ̈Even if I can’t do the most
complicated thing, the little details that coach says are the most
important ̈ Haylie expresses.
Haylie accomplished the achievement of making varsity as a
sophomore, she continues to stand proud in her position on the
team. She says that moment meant a lot to her and her career.
Kaitlyn accomplished an honorable mention during the 2024
basketball season: She was named all-state. Looking back on this
life event, she states ̈Just try hard whenever you play. Basketball is
so much more fun when you actually give it your all ̈ She feels this could be favorable advice
for someone new joining the team.
̈Basketball is really fun and definitely worth it ̈ Haylie says. She believes that basketball
builds your relationship with the people around you. She honors her coaches and strives to
do her best every game while making an incredible impact on the team.
Overall these girls are impacting their whole team by how they collaborate and keep
striving in their own ways.