Balls bouncing, shoes squeaking, sweat dripping, and weights slamming. That is what it sounds like in the Goffstown High School gym as the boys and girls’ basketball teams prepare for their upcoming basketball season. 

Both teams started their preseason workouts before fall sports were even over, giving them maximum time to push themselves to be the best they can. Ryan Cowette, the GHS athletic director who has over 10 years of coaching experience is taking back the boys team this year, and Nate Bracy, teacher at Goffstown High school, who has 8 years of coaching experience is sticking with the girl’s varsity team. Each team has a set full body workout they believe will help progress their game in season. 

While both teams have similar workout plans, and similar setups for open gyms, the coaches have stated their goals for the teams are different. Cowette is “excited beyond belief,” for this season, and wants his team to be known as an “execution team,” who can take every possession and make it their game. Bracy is “excited to see where the team goes this year,” and wants his team to be known as a “defensive pressure team,” that turns every defensive into an offensive. 

During the preseason, coaches have simply been there to supervise and not coach. Players have had to figure out their own ways to go about things and have more self-responsibility about how their time is spent. More self-responsibility holds the players to a higher standard, especially the returning players who know what is expected of them. 

With basketball being a big mental sport, both coaches can agree that the biggest competition for Goffstown this season will be themselves. Bracy will be teaching his players to prepare for this by “looking internally and thinking about what the best actions and attitudes will be.” Cowette will be teaching his players to “be as disciplined as possible and push others to be their best… can’t worry about other teams in the division.”