Senior Series - Jordyn Feldman

I have attended Hawken since preschool, so I am known as a "Lifer." I started playing on the Hawken girls basketball team in middle school, where my dad was the coach. For as long as I can remember, I have listened to teachers and upperclassmen talk to my peers and me about what Fair Play means. Playing basketball was the first time I was able to fully understand the definition of Fair Play. Before I started playing, I thought sports were about performance, but basketball taught me the importance of being on a team. My teammates and I not only support each other through wins and losses but in all aspects of life. I would never have met some of my closest friends had it not been for this sport. The feeling of joy when I win a game with my best friends is something I cannot put into words. I love basketball because it is a sport that doesn't rely on skill alone; communication and trust make a team play as one instead of many.

Basketball has not only allowed me to become a better version of myself but also taught me how to use my time wisely. During the season, there is no time for procrastination. I am someone who always strives to give my best, which is why balance is so important to me. Basketball allows me to focus on the present and forget about the assignments I have due the next day. After playing, I feel energized and restored. Even if I am having a bad day, I look forward to getting in the gym and becoming a better person and player. 

I was so excited as a middle schooler to continue playing for Hawken on the basketball team in high school. My first basketball season freshman year was a blast. Under the leadership of Coach Murray, Coach Jim, and Coach D, our team thrived. My JV coach Don Drockton helped me progress my knowledge of the game.

For my sophomore season, my parents decided that I was not going to play basketball due to COVID-19, so the fact that I did not play for a season definitely set me behind. Instead, I decided to play tennis because it was an outdoor sport. However, I didn't realize how much I loved the team aspect of basketball. I missed my sport, and I was anxious to get back into it. 

Junior year was when I needed to press on the pedal and start putting in the work to get back to where I was. The season was a success, and I was extremely excited for my senior season to begin. 

Starting in the 2022-23 season, there was a coaching change. Of course I was nervous because it was my senior year, and the seniors wanted to leave our mark on the program. Although, I knew that whoever they brought in would be an excellent fit for our team. I was elated when I found out that Hawken had hired a female coach from Valley Forge named Brittany Matuschek who brought her assistant coach with her, Tom Hicks. I attended a couple of open gyms during the summer, and I loved Coach Britt's energy. I was looking forward to having the entire team start practicing together. Coach Stacie Shaw and Coach Tahtyana McKenzie tie the entire coaching staff together. 

Coach Britt is determined to make us better players both off and on the court with something she likes to call "Mindfulness Monday." We are able to reflect on our past week and share our goals for the upcoming week. Coach Hicks stresses the importance of not only playing hard but having fun. He is a very experienced coach with lots of knowledge to shed. Coach Stacie is the light of our team. She is always there to pick us up when we are feeling down and never fails to make us laugh.  Coach Tahtyana McKenzie is a perfect fit for JV to teach them the fundamentals of basketball. Although we were feeling defeated when our shots did not hit in the middle of our season, something about our team is that we never give up. Currently, girl's basketball is on a 9-game win streak and headed to districts. We are finally at the point in the season where we can "play with the lights off," as Coach Hicks says.

Along with playing basketball, I was also a coach for the Hawken Middle School clinics, where I met some of the younger players and shared my love of the sport that shaped who I am. I, along with my coaches and some of my teammates, taught them the basics of basketball, modeled teamwork, and gave them the confidence to succeed. During Youth Night, I saw many familiar faces and showed them around the facility they would soon play in.

Time has flown by so fast. I still cannot believe that this is my last season playing basketball at Hawken. The memories I have made with my teammates and the strong friendships are the greatest gifts this sport has given me. I encourage all students to participate in a sport even if they are not confident in their abilities yet because not only will they get better with practice, but they will make lifelong relationships.