President Barack Obama complimented both basketball teams at the start of his Jan. 4 speech at the high school.
“I heard you have some pretty good basketball teams this season – boys and girls,” Obama said before joking that he had no more athletic eligibility and couldn’t play for the Raiders.
“It’s exciting. We work hard and it’s pretty rewarding to hear the president mention our team,” senior guard Caleb Beachy said.
“I thought he wasn’t going to mention [the women’s team], so I got a little upset,” junior guard Gala Hughley said, “but then he mentioned girls, and I was happy.”
Because of the construction and deconstruction of the stage and media area, the women’s basketball team practiced at Woodbury Elementary School Jan. 3- 4, and their Jan. 4 home game vs. Canton McKinley High School was cancelled.
“It was disappointing because the game was big for us. Also, practicing at Woodbury was not very fun,” Hughley said. The women beat Bedford 49-37 Jan. 7.
The men suffered no consequences from the presidential visit. They practiced in the South Gym at the normal time both days and defeated Warrensville Heights 88-62 Jan. 6.
