“It was scary at first but it was a good experience and I made friendships that will last because all the girls were very welcoming,” said freshman Cali Giaccomazza.

There are multiple acclaimed athletes in our school, but Cali is one who really stands out.  Many athletes play various sports across numerous seasons but from a young age, Cali knew her passion sport: basketball. Playing across multiple club teams and playing travel basketball all throughout middle school, no one could have predicted her impact during her first season in her high school career.

“It was scary at first but it was a good experience and I made friendships that will last because all the girls were very welcoming,” she said. As the only freshman on the team, Cali had to meet many new people and build relationships with her teammates. 

“I started to play basketball when I was three or four , and then I started playing travel basketball once I got to middle school,” she said. Cali has loved playing basketball even when it was just her and her brother messing around in the driveway and having fun. She also enjoys watching basketball. She says her favorite time is March Madness and she likes to bet on which team will win with her friends, she says her favorite team in the women’s league is the women’s UConn basketball team. 

“It won’t be the same without the 2022 seniors on the team,” she said. Cali had made solid friendships with some of the seniors on the team and still talks to them now although they are away at college. She says that she always stays on top of her school work so basketball does not affect her grades/schoolwork in any way. Cali likes playing games and loves the competition of it all. She also loves the support from her team and town throughout the season. 

“I used to be really good at soccer but I quit soccer to play basketball and practiced a lot to get to where I am,” she said. She quit soccer so she could focus on basketball and have more time for club teams while she’s in the off-season, so she can be the best she can be.  Cali expressed that her dream was to get into college and play D1 basketball in the future.