Coming off of a losing season last year, the Olympians are looking to bounce back from an 11-13 record. Last year, the Olympians lost five of their seniors, three of which regularly started. East made it to sectionals where they lost against rival Columbus North.

This year, senior captain, Jonathan Foster, hopes to capitalize on the team’s harmony. “I hope we can remain a tight knit group on the floor. Whether we win or lose, it is imperative that we continue to play as a team and trust one another on the court,” said Foster.

Even with the loss of five seniors last year, the Olympians are gaining a group of seniors that have been playing together since they were freshmen.

“Along with us (seniors) and some underclassmen, we all really enjoy playing together and I hope that our great team chemistry will help us improve our record this season,” said Foster.

Some of last year’s underclassmen that will be looking for varsity time this year, including juniors Max Nolting, Wyatt Koopman, and Drew Hasson, as well as sophomores Drew Johnson and Matthew Frost. Last year, Nolting helped contribute to some of the Olympian’s Varsity wins. This year, he will most likely replace Parker Chitty by leading at point guard.

“I feel like it is definitely my responsibility to lead the team and get them in the right spots. It’s my job to encourage my teammates and get them to be positive,” said Nolting.

The Olympians started strong in their first basketball game at Heritage Christian School on December 6 with a 72-62 victory. They hope to carry that momentum throughout the season.

When asked about his personal goals and expectations for this season, Nolting said, “My goal for our team is to win a sectional title. It has been a long time since Columbus East basketball has won one, so I feel as if it’s our time to change that.”

The Olympians will play their first home game on December 9 against Bedford North Lawrence High School in the Orange Pit. JV starts at 6:00 and Varsity follows.