Coach Gretchen Clay stands on the sideline during the first day of girls’ sophomore basketball tryouts, pacing the floor, watching every action the girls take, from their skills to their character on the floor. She seems to have an advantage with coaching the sophomores this year, after moving up from freshman head coach to sophomore assistant coach to aid head coach Bryan Bergman.

“This group of girls always shows a great sense of team cohesiveness and a passion for the game,” Clay said. “I know they will not be afraid to work hard to achieve all the goals they seek. I’m excited to build upon the skills the girls learned last year and to embark on a new season with Bergman.”

Major differences between sophomore and freshmen basketball include the amount of girls on the team and intensity, Clay said. All of these changes are new to her because her past years of coaching at LT have only included the freshmen team.

“There will be a lot of changes, personally, with less responsibility with the assistant position than the head coach position,” Clay said. “I will be more of Bergman’s eyes and ears for adjustments during the game, instead of making the calls. The change will be different, but also good.”

Clay has always been apart of sports in some way ever since she was able to walk. She has a background in playing high school basketball, soccer, golf and softball. With her passion to play sports and teach kids the fundamentals of sports, she knew being a gym teacher and a team coach was the right career, Clay said.

“Coaching has enhanced my time at LT,” Clay said. “LT has become a part of my family, and getting to know the kids is a great addition. It’s a real treat and pleasure to do something I love.”

Grace Thomas ‘17, a member of the LT girls’ sophomore basketball team, has a great idea of how the season will progress with Clay’s familiar face.

“Last year she gave us a foundation to move to the next level, and this year we will build and improve on that foundation again,” Thomas said. “Coach Clay cares about the team but also everyone as an individual. She is always there for us, in the best and worst of times.”

Another member of the LT girls’ sophomore basketball team, Shannon Butler ’17, has expressed great outlooks to continuing with Clay and great memories from the previous seasons, Butler says.

“Coach Clay really pushed me to do better, and she didn’t give up on me,” Butler said. “She’s very understanding and has a good sense of humor, everyone is very comfortable around her and can let go at practice.”

With tryouts completed and a sophomore team set as of Nov. 4, practices will continue throughout the month leading up to the first game on Nov. 25.