“Basketball has helped me become the person I am now,” says Christian Fitzpatrick, one of Wilcox’s star basketball players. From the age of five to approaching eighteen, basketball has always been an outlet in Fitzpatrick’s life. As the only player with varsity level experience, his leadership is what keeps the team moving forward. Whenever there were moments in his life that impacted him poorly, basketball would always be there to pick up the pieces and improve his spirits.
Starting his freshman year on JV and graduating to Varsity by his sophomore year, Fitzpatrick has always been able to keep up with the team. This year, as a senior, Fitzpatrick has been tasked with balancing his basketball career with college applications, classes, and other extracurriculars. Not to mention other things that are not school related such as friends, family, and a job. Fitzpatrick, however, has learned to use basketball as a way to release stress. He claims “It helps me keep focused on my schoolwork because I need to keep my grades up in order to play.”
Moreover, Fitzpatrick fell in love with the sport for many reasons aside from relieving stress and motivating him to keep up his grades. Through basketball, Fitzpatrick has developed a love for a very healthy hobby and created strong friendships and bonds with those he has met through his basketball journey.
Throughout his four years on the team, Fitzpatrick is thankful for the memories and bonds he has made with his teammates. He says that, “Through the season we spend a lot of time together and become a lot closer than the year before.” Fitzpatrick and his teammates even get ready for games together by listening to music and keeping the atmosphere in the locker room lighthearted by telling jokes.
In addition to basketball, Fitzpatrick has participated in a few clubs on campus including Touch of Aloha and Filippino American Student Association. However, between sports, school, and clubs, Fitzpatrick still keeps his grades up. Coach Toloy explains that, “He possesses student-athlete qualities such as coach ability, composure, commitment, accountability, and most important he is a competitor… as a student he sets the bar as a solid student.”
Using his time management skills, Fitzpatrick always finds a way to complete his homework and other activities on top of his commitment to basketball. Practice starts immediately after school, giving him no time to start homework before. Then practice goes on until about 6:00 or 7:00 PM.
Once he gets home, he starts homework before talking to friends. He says, “It’s mostly just managing my time wisely and knowing what I have to do ahead of time.”
Other than his teammates, one of Fitzpatrick’s inspirations would be professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Kyrie Irvine. Irvine’s skills and qualities as a leader help Fitzpatrick become the best player he can be.
They also have one thing in common-their leadership qualities. While talking to coach of Varsity Boys Basketball, Robert Toloy, he states, “This is my second year here at Wilcox and he has been one of the reasons why coaching is a blessing.”
Coach Toloy goes even further into his praise by saying, “This year has been an even greater challenge for him leading a team of players that have no varsity level experience and he exudes a quiet but very competitive patience as his team mates develop alongside him.”