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04/09/2024 02:00 AMWesley “Wes” Percival was meant to play sports. He has showcased his skills in various athletic avenues over the years, and his athleticism led him to be trusted as a strong leader and captain for Old Saybrook boys’ basketball this past winter.
The Rams junior has had basketball in his life since he was four years old, and the passion he shares for the court with his family makes it so special to him.
“It was my favorite sport, and I would always beg to go to the park and rec to shoot around,” Wes says. “I love to spend some of my evenings during the season shooting around in my driveway with my brothers. My parents inspired me to play the game. Throughout my travel basketball career, my dad would coach my team and help me work on my game. My dad is my biggest supporter and encourages me to be the best player I can be.”
Wes grew up playing as a guard, however, Old Saybrook Head Coach Chris Perras had him switch to being a center this past season due to his height. With switching positions often comes a learning curve, but according to Perras, it was one Wes took in stride as he made adjustments on the floor.
“The season for him went well; there were some games that you want back. He fouled too many times, he didn’t contribute the way that he may have wanted to, but that is all part of the process of learning,” says Perras. “As a junior, he was logging some pretty heavy minutes. Early on in the season, he was a contributor on the court, when we knew what his potential was during practice. He could rebound well; he did some really good things.”
Besides spending his winters on the basketball court, Wes also takes part in other athletics for Old Saybrook, playing for the Morgan/Old Saybrook co-op football team in the fall, and for the boys’ lacrosse team in the spring. Because he keeps himself busy, Wes has also mastered the art of time management and balancing the books.
“I also play both lacrosse and football. For lacrosse, I play midfield, while in football I am a wide receiver and safety,” says Wes. “I balance school and sports by allotting around two hours of my evening after practice or games to doing homework, although these two hours are not always consistent because I enjoy spending time with my family, too.”
Although Wes does not find it challenging to switch from season to season, it does take him a few practices during the start of the basketball season to build up his confidence. As one of three captains for the 3-13 Rams this winter, he had to focus on keeping his team in check while also expanding on his own abilities.
“We have a great team with lots of players supporting one another,” says Wes. “This season was challenging since we were a young team with lots of players in new roles. I tried to be positive and encouraging through the season. We had a fun time despite a tough season. As a team, we had several dinners together at the Monkey Farm and other Old Saybrook spots. Spending time together off the court helped our team bond.”
Perras commends Wes for having the ability to keep his teammates grounded but also loose. Despite the Rams’ record, Wes never waivered from being a dedicated teammate that always wanted to learn more and grow with each individual contest.
“Wes led the team in a balanced way. He was loose, he made practices fun for not only himself but also for his teammates,” Perras says. “He also was focused, a great leader in communicating with his teammates, prepping for opponents, asking questions. The best leaders are all from the best learners, and he wanted to learn and soak things up. He led in the way that we needed him to.”
Perras adds that although there were some growing pains for Wes early on in his high school basketball career that may have seemed like a negative for him, his ability to work through them only prepared him for his success as a junior and the strides he’ll take next year.
“Looking back and reflecting on those can be a positive, as that is just going to help him so much for next year,” Perras adds. “Wes is a kid who has had success being a three-sport athlete. He has been in the basketball program for three years. In those two first years, he saw us make the state and Shoreline tournaments. I think the struggles were that he needed to be a key contributor for us, having to grow based on the speed of the game, what his opponents were doing, and staying out of foul trouble.”
Although the winter season didn’t turn out how Wes and the Rams would’ve hoped it would, he looks back on the campaign with pride due to the overall improvement of the squad. He looks forward to developing even further as an athlete and seeing the potential he knows Old Saybrook basketball has.
“Our record didn't reflect the growth we had as a team. I'm grateful for Coach Perras's support and encouragement,” Wes says. “My goal for next year is to make a deep run in the Shoreline tournament. My brother is in eighth grade, and it will be fun to have him join me on the court next year. The rising freshmen are a great group of players.”