Sports editor
What a season it was.
Marion High School foreign exchange students Emil Schramm, Phillip Gu, Niklas Bronnert, and Mats Mangelrod Johannessen ended their first organized basketball season Friday, and were proud to say they were part of the Warrior squad.
“It’s good to fight for your school pride,” Schramm said. “I will miss that.”
MHS head coach Jeff McMillin said their improvement is noticeable.
“All four started out with little fundamental skill, but they have picked up a lot of the mental aspect of the game and have a lot better understanding of the game,” he said. “In addition, their physical skills also are developing.”
This year is the only season the students will have as Warriors. The four will either return home or attend college this fall.
In their respective countries, the student-athletes did not have teams as part of their schools. Instead, all sports were part of separate clubs or other organizations.
They agreed that working together as part of a school team make sports in the U.S. more serious.
“You just have to play with a lot of heart and really dig deep into the cookie jar,” Johannassen said.
Especially the first few days of practice, he said, when the mornings consisted of nothing but conditioning.
“It’s way tougher here,” Schramm said of practices. “Most people back home would just drop out.”
Johannessen agreed.
“But you are representing your school,” he said. “You can’t just drop out.”
Bronnert said McMillin is tougher than any coach in his hometown, but he also agreed with Johannassen.
“We really like coach McMillin,” Johannassen said.
So now, three months after the first week of practice, all four are glad they made it through.
“It’s tough, but a lot of fun,” Bronnert said.
Gu, who said the emergence of the seven-foot NBA Chinaman Yao Ming has made basketball popular in his home country, loves the teamwork aspect of U.S. high school sports.
“At home I played a lot of basketball, but always by myself,” Gu said. “I really like the passion and enthusiasm of the team.”
McMillin said he appreciates the energy all four bring to practice.
“Their enthusiasm is a great thing they bring to the table every day,” he said, “and Mats is good for at least one laugh per day. He was talking the other day about trying out for the Norwegian Olympic team in four years.”
The season
The four played mostly on the MHS C-team, but saw some junior varsity time as well.
Johannassen said the rules were not hard to pickup, but took some time because it wasn’t that way when he played at school.
“No one knew the rules in gym class,” he said. “There were a lot of fouls.”
He also played football in the fall, and thought it was more complicated than basketball.
“I thought football rules were harder, but I still have a pretty high average of traveling,” Johannassen said with a laugh.
The Norway native and Bavarian Schramm also had a friendly competition during the season.
Each kept track of their points during C and JV games, trying to out-do the other. Going into the final game of the season, Schramm led Johannassen, 37-35.
“I know the team and winning is more important — this is just kind of a bonus,” Johannassen said two days before the Hillsboro game. “I want to beat him, but I’m not going to cry myself to sleep if I lose.”
Schramm disagreed.
“Get ready for some crying,” he said to his teammate and friend with a laugh.
Johannassen nailed a three-pointer and scored eight points, but Schram kept pace, scoring seven points, and defeating his friend, 45-44.
Despite the competition, the four said their main goal was to be a part of something they could share with teammates and remember the rest of their lives.
The experience has made an impression.
When the year began, Bronnert and Schramm realized they lived just 10 minutes away from each other in Germany.
Bronnert said when they go back, the two will try to play basketball together when they can.
Johannassen wants to bring the game to his house.
He said he had never seen a basketball hoop at someone’s home before he came to the U.S.
“I want a goal for my driveway,” he said.
McMillin said he hopes the season will stay with the boys the rest of their lives.
“I have really enjoyed having these guys be a part of our program for a year,” he said. “I think they feel they have had a good experience being a part of the team and they have enjoyed themselves, and really, that’s what it’s all about.”