Get to Know the New Hampton Girl’s Hoop Stars
Posted on February 5th 2012
by Julia Maldonado
The New Hampton Girls basketball team has shown undeniable promise during the 2011-12 season, and are currently sporting a 16-1 record as members of the NESPAC Class “A”.
With a HUGE 21-point win over Nobles last week, avenging their only loss of the season, New Hampton is now in the drivers seat in Class A and poised to make a deep run to the post-season.
Their success is due in large part to its senior class of players, some of whom are committed to Division I programs in fall of 2012. Interestingly, aside from leading the New Hampton Huskies, the girls (pictured left to right at their signing day), Melissa Frase (UMass Lowell), Maddy Blais (committed to Marist College), Sam Brenner (committed to the University of Vermont), and Lizzy Ball (committed to Fairfield University) are also teammates on the NH Rivals AAU team, coached by Scott Hazelton (current coach of Bishop Guertin’s Girls’ Varsity team).
They have all expressed their gratitude to the coaches, teammates, parents and mentors who have helped them along the way on their road to college and took some time to answer a series of questions regarding some of the topics on the minds of high school athletes everywhere.
Q: When did you starts playing basketball and were there specific people who influenced you to play?
Sam Brenner (pictured below): When I was in elementary school, a lot of people would ask me over and over again if I played basketball because I was so tall for my age. I started to play on a city league team in fifth grade and then made my school team in sixth grade in middle school. At that age the person that influenced me the most was a very close family friend Eli Whitney. His daughter was a D-1 basketball player in college and he saw the potential in me at a young age. He really kept my hopes up for the future and showed me how fun basketball could be.
credit: Charles George
Lizzy Ball: I started playing basketball when I was five. All my friends started playing it so I decided to also. There was no particular person I just liked always beating the boys.
Madeline Blais: I started playing basketball on a team when I was four years old. My brother had a huge impact on my game simply because he pushed me to play outside with him every day growing up. As I got older though my biggest role model was a girl named Amanda Swiezynski who later went on to play at Villanova. She was the star player in high school when I was in middle school and I thought to myself every game how I wanted to get to be as good as she was.
Melissa Frase: I started playing basketball in second grade. I would say the most influential people throughout my life would be my parents. They have always pushed be to do my best and give 100% all the time no matter what.
Q: Describe the New Hampton Huskies team’s identity and what you want other teams in your conference to think about when they play the Huskies.
Sam: I think that when other teams see us on their schedule, we want them to feel intimidated. We are a very tough and physical team, so I think (other teams) know it will be a tough and fast-paced games until the final buzzer goes off. Even though we want them to be afraid of us basketball-wise, we want to keep a high level of sportsmanship. We play a clean game and we want to be the best team that also shows class.
Lizzy Ball (pictured below): I want them to know that we are competitors and that we are going into every game with confidence. I know before every game we are thinking with confidence, and not cockiness, which is key.
credit: Charles George
Madeline: We, as a team at New Hampton, want to make teams afraid of our defense. We've done a pretty good job so far this season at keeping teams to low scores in games. We constantly stress our defense in practice and want to make a team feel like they cannot score on us. (Coach Petkus) is always telling us how if the other team doesn't score, they can't win.
Q: How has playing at New Hampton helped you develop as a player?
Sam: I am playing on a great New Hampton team with three other committed college players, I am simply getting better everyday. I have to fight for playing time just like anyone else. Coach Freddy Petkus keeps our feet on the ground and makes it very real for us with how hard we still have to work even though we are committed (to Universities and Colleges). If we don't know the plays we don't play, if we don't rebound or sprint we don't play, and if we were ever to give him attitude we certainly don't play. I like that because that is what we are going to have to live up to in college. My teammates on my school team, which actually contains three of my AAU teammates, are the ones that really push me. They do not sugar coat anything and they never let me have an excuse for anything, which is what I need. Freshman to Senior, we are one big family and we play together so well. Playing in a difficult league like Class A really makes every game a challenge, which is great. I am not looking for time in high school to play easy teams that we can smoke by 40 points. You don't get better that way.
Lizzy: The competition level at New Hampton at practices and in games is really preparing me for the next level. I play against other teams that have a solid team not just one player that is amazing. It has helped me grow both offensively and defensively. At New Hampton, Coach Freddy Petkus is definitely preparing for us for college play and the college level. The players on my team also help me grow as a player because the competition level during practice also prepares us for the next level and games. The facilities at New Hampton are amazing because you have any resource necessary in getting better at the sport you want to excel in.
Madeline Blais (pictured below): Coach Freddy Petkus really knows what he's talking about and is hard on us so that we reach our potential. He realizes many of us will be playing in college so he helps us live up to next year's expectations. He screams louder than any coach I've had, and encourages us just as frequently. I'd recommend to any female basketball player to come to New Hampton simply to be coached by him. I'm on a squad full of talented girls who have either signed or will eventually play in college. It's so incredibly helpful because it makes it more realistic to the type of talent we'll be playing with at the next level. It's also a lot of fun being on a team where every girl wants to be there, get better, and loves the sport. The athletic facilities (at New Hampton) are constantly available, which has probably made the biggest impact on my basketball career since I've been here. I can go in and work on my dribbling or run on the treadmill anytime I want to.
credit: Charles George
Melissa: This one year at New Hampton has helped me tremendously. I have grown as a player and a person, and I have become more confident with myself.
Q: Sam chose the University of Vermont over other schools. She was asked, “why UVM? Aside from the basketball program, what do you like about the college?”
Sam: I could not be happier with my commitment! My mom came up with a great motto for me with my process, "If basketball was not in the equation at all, would I still go to this school." I really asked myself that every time I was done taking a tour of a school. I love the academics at UVM. I am a complete nerd, and completely into my studies just like basketball. So it was very important to me that my college had high academic expectations. I love Burlington, it is a great city. It is in the top 10 places to live and top 10 college towns in America. The people at UVM are the nicest people I have ever met, so happy, and Burlington is so supportive of UVM and the athletics at the school, especially of women's basketball.
Q: Lizzy will be attending Fairfield University in the Fall. “Why Fairfield? Aside from the basketball program, what do you like about the college?”
Lizzy: I thought the campus was amazing with the beach and the cute town so close. It reminded me of the town I grew up in. Also, I got a great feel from the people there . I was interested in the nursing program there too.
Q: Madeline has decided on Marist College. “Why Marist? Aside from the basketball program, what do you like about the college?”
Madeline: Marist College was an easy decision on my part. One of my biggest interests in colleges was coaching. Brian Giorgis is one of the best coaches today in women's basketball, as seen by his records of success. He is a great person in general, but also knows the game to a T. Another attribute I loved about Marist is the idea of the post-season. I want to go to the NCAA tournament. Marist has gone consistently in the near past. Lastly, I feel like I can contribute to their program. I want to play basketball next year more than anything, and I think I have a good shot to if I keep working at my game. I'm also in love with the players I'll be with, the campus and size of the student body.
Q: Melissa has decided on UMass Lowell. “Why UMass Lowell? Aside from the basketball program, what do you like about the college?”
Melissa Frase (pictured below): I picked UMass Lowell because of Coach Behn. I loved her intentions that she has for the program. She has great basketball experience and I believe that she will turn UMass Lowell around, and I wanted to be of that experience. I committed to UMass Lowell in August 2011.
credit: Charles George
Q: What was the recruiting process like? Who helped you?
Sam: The recruiting process had highs and lows for me, to be honest. However, I do believe that everything happens for a reason and that someone is looking over me with the decisions that I make and what comes my way. I think the recruiting process through my junior year was a lot of fun. Getting letters and emails from places that I didn't think would even consider me, I thought ‘you never knew what they were looking for and you may be it.’ I toured and visited a lot of schools. Everything that happened to me in my two year process has lead me to UVM and I could not be happier. I will admit that when you do get down to your last 2-3 schools, it’s very hard. Having a good back bone support system is needed, and I simply do not know what I would have done without my mother. Going on these visits with her will be one of the highlights of my life. Without her organization, positive attitude, and all her wonderful questions that I forget to ask on visits, I do not think I could have survived the process or make the right decision.
Lizzy: The recruiting process was extremely stressful. My AAU coach, Scott Hazelton, helped immensely through out this process by understanding what I was looking for and talking to coaches for me. Myy coach at New Hampton, Freddy Petkus, also helped me with the process by talking to coaches and to me about what I wanted.
Madeline: The recruiting process was hectic. I have a busy life as it is and it was even crazier having to put so much time into making the right decision. I had to get to know each school pretty well before I could decide, and as anyone could imagine, that took a long time. It is a huge relief to be done with the college process so much earlier than most of my classmates, who are still applying to college. Scott Hazelton, my AAU coach for the NH RIVALS, was a huge help in the process. He is the one that got me looked at by schools in the first place. Without him, who knows where I'd be going next year. He also helped me to narrow down my list of schools where he thought I would fit best.
Melissa: The recruiting process was probably the hardest couple of years of my life. You never know where you stand. Especially since I tore my ACL the end of my junior year. It left a lot of things up in the air. The most important thing I learned was to just keep an open mind and know that everything happens for a reason and I will find the school that fits me the best. My parents and my AAU coach (Scott Hazelton) helped me so much throughout the whole process. They were always encouraging and made the process a lot easier.
Q: What would you say are your individual strengths that also improve the play of the team as a whole?
Sam: I think my defense is one of biggest strengths that I bring to a team. If someone's man goes by them, I think I am very good in "help" defense. I block a lot of shots, and even though it is a far way down, I do take charges from time to time. I love to talk and be loud, so I think my leadership on the court, especially on defense, really helps our team. Sometimes by just talking and being loud on defense it is intimidating and forces the other team to make a mistake without you really having to do something. Also, I surprise my defenders a lot. When someone is guarding me on the perimeter and gives me space I love to shoot the 3-pointer or go hard (to the basket) and get an And-1's.
Lizzy: I really enjoy getting into the lanes, jump stopping, and passing into the shooting pocket. I would say that that’s my biggest strength because all of the defenders collapse on me when I get in the paint, so I like to kick it to my shooting guard for an open shot.
Madeline: I would say my offensive rebounding and my attitude. I think rebounding is a very underrated stat in basketball. Rebounding helps the team get second looks on offense and prevent the opposing team from doing so. I think my team also gains from my positive attitude. At New Hampton we try to encourage the idea of "next play". Dwelling on mistakes only encourages future mistakes.
Melissa: I believe that the one strength that I bring to my team this year would be my effort. I try to always give 100% all the time and this reflects on my teammates and pushing them to do their best.
Q: Finally, what are your interests and hobbies away from basketball?
Sam: I love the outdoors. I love to hike, swimming, snowboarding, sledding, anything really. A lot of my closest friends are my basketball teammates from school and from my AAU program so we do a lot together. Whether it's going to sporting events or playing basketball together or having a huge sleepover at someone's house. I am also a huge Patriots fan, so I try to go to games or watch them on TV with my family. I also have a big interest in music. I play the guitar and I am trying to pick up the piano again. My school offers great music classes. I take "Rock Band" with one of my teammates actually. We don't sound too bad, and we also sing. I am just trying to do everything else that is not basketball so that I can experience high school and not regret anything. I try to do every club, activity, or sport that I can.
Lizzy: I love spending time with my family, friends, and boyfriend outside of basketball. I also love shopping. It is definitely one of my favorite things to do. I also love cuddling up and watching movies with some hot chocolate! I love reading and staying on top of my current events with staying in tune with BBC news.
Madeline: I love sports but I also have recently been looking into the arts. I joined the school musical this past fall and have been singing daily as well. I realize basketball will consume my life even more than it does now so I have been trying to experience more in this last year of high school. I also love spending time with my family.
Melissa: I love hanging out with friends and going to the beach.
credit: Charles George
