By: Huck Fedorchuk  

     Achieving 1000 points is one of the biggest individual accomplishments you can achieve. It takes skill, determination, and consistency to achieve such a big goal, and we have had two athletes just within the year reach it. Those athletes were Austin Hanson and Lainey Font, who both have gone above and beyond by reaching this milestone.  

     Austin is a junior at Eisenhower who has been playing basketball for ten years, showing his dedication to the sport. His stellar basketball skills have shown not only through this recent milestone that came on January 5 at an away game vs Sharon, but also through the various awards he’s received through his seasons. His freshman season was very impressive as he was named the region player of the year, as well as being a district all-star, and D10’s rookie of the year. He continued high skill performance his sophomore year and led the district in free throw percentage and was again recognized as a D10 first team all-star. Now being a junior, we are sure he will continue to receive impressive accolades. 

    The Squire asked Austin Hanson for his thoughts on reaching 1000 points and when he realized reaching it was an obtainable goal? He shared that, “When I was in eighth grade I realized how achievable it could be.” Austin later elaborated on advice he’d give younger athletes by explaining the importance of not getting discouraged and to keep working hard no matter what. Austins future plans are to go to college and continue his basketball career at Duke University. When Austin hit 1000 points, he explained that he was still in the middle of a game, so he wasn’t able to stop and celebrate. After the game he was happy but in the moment he knew there was still work to be done. 

    Lainey Font is the second athlete to achieve 1000 points this year, doing so at a home game on January 17. Lainey has been playing basketball since third grade, having ten years under her belt. Her hard work has not gone unseen as she has been named a region all-star for her sophomore, and junior year, and she’s additionally been a top 3-point shooter in the district for these years. Now, in her senior season she is continuing to play at a high-level alongside four other senior starters, also being a team captain since her sophomore year. 

    Lainey shared with The Squire her advice for upcoming athletes, “I think younger athletes should know that any goal is reachable with hard work and to never let a disadvantage get in the way of their goals.” We also asked when she thought getting 1000 points would be obtainable, and she shared, “It has always been a goal since I was younger, but after my sophomore season I has 450 points, so I knew I could reach it if I continued to improve.” Lainey would like to play basketball if it coincides with her schooling plans, since her main priority is academics, however she would be happy to play at any level. Lainey described the moment of hitting 1000 points as super fulfilling and an extremely emotional moment for her as well as heartwarming being surrounded by all her supporters; it is a moment she will never forget.  

    These two outstanding athletes are just the tip of the iceberg at Eisenhower Middle High School, with many more young athletes striving for the goals that these two showed is possible. The Squire thanks Austin and Lainey for taking the time to share their perspectives, and we also encourage students to go to a basketball game to support all the hard work that the athletes put forth daily.