Area girls enjoy Hathaway Brown basketball camp

A wide array of children were in attendance at the latest Hathaway Brown basketball camp this past week at Hathaway Brown. But the campers all had two things in common, a love for the game and the urge to get better.

Hathaway Brown Middle School athletic director Julie Kerrigan-Ettorre ran the camp as she has been at HB for 27 years and has plenty of basketball coaching experience.

“We’re very fortunate to have the counselors we have,” Kerrigan-Ettorre said. “All of them have won state championships.”

Kerrigan-Ettorre was talking about Blazer varsity players Vanessa Smith, Colleen Lavelle, Stephanie Poland, Nia Marshall and Beth Brzozowski, who helped her run the camp. The Blazers have won four straight Division II state championships.

“They all give back and love to do this,” Kerrigan-Ettorre said.

There were about 50 girls at the camp, which was for grades three through six.

“We express holistic basketball,” Kerrigan-Ettorre said. “Fundamentals. Be a team player. Basketball touches us in life lessons as well.

“We go over what makes you a better basketball player. We talk a lot about what it means to be a team player. Winning is not about me.”

HB varsity coach Paul Barlow was also on hand.

“We’ve had a high profile program and we’ve capitalized on that,” Barlow said. “What is also great is the counselors are varsity basketball players. They really bond to them. We want them to be viewed as approachable and community friendly.

“I think it’s (girls looking up to them) great for them (the varsity players). It validates the hard work they’ve put in. They’re able to have that as a perk. It’s good for their ego. It’s good also to ground them in a certain way. They have to be approachable and not be above this.”

One new camper was Audrey Schrimsher, 9, of Beachwood. She just moved to the area from Atlanta and will attend Gilmour Academy.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Audrey said. “I learned how to do a crossover (dribble) and how to fake out people.”

Schrimsher said she enjoyed the camp for girls because many of the sports camps in Atlanta focus more on boys or are co-ed.

Brzozowski said she knows how Audrey feels.

“I actually went to a lot of boys camps,” Brzozowski said. “I did a lot of the same drills.”

Brzozowski said she has three older brothers to thank in part for that situation.

Grace Durdle, 11, of Moreland Hills also attended her first camp.

“It’s really fun,” Grace said. “I’ve learned a lot of new stuff that I can take back to my team.”

Grace, who attends Laurel School, plays for a recreational team in Chagrin Falls.

“I really enjoy working with the counselors,” Grace said. “I like learning different defenses and how to fake people out.”

Grace said she looks up to the Blazers. She could also look up to see their championship banners.

“It’s really cool,” Grace said. “I want to win a state championship one day. I asked them about it and they say it takes a lot of practice.”

Marshall said it’s nice to see the girls looking up to the players.

“It’s definitely a great feeling,” Marshall said. “I want to be a leader for the kids. We know they look up to us. We want to be good role models for all the kids.

“I remember when I was little and how intimidating it was (looking up to older players). I know when I was little, it meant a lot.”

Izzy Sutton, 11, of Lakewood, is camp veteran. The HB student was at her third camp.

“I really like practicing,” Izzy said. “I want to get really good so I can play in middle school. It’s nice to see the players who actually played for HB.

“I know a couple because I’ve gone to (previous) camps. I think it’s really cool.”

Izzy has a favorite though.

“I want to be as tall as Stephanie,” Izzy said. “I want to win a state championship.”

Poland stands 6-foot-4.

“This is good,” Poland said. “We do a nice job of interacting with the girls and we work with a lot of different fundamental skills.

“We have so much fun. We focus a lot on basketball.”

Poland said she definitely sees the younger girls looking up to the Blazers.

“We open up by introducing ourselves,” Poland said. “We say our name, grade and how many state titles we’ve won. One girl said she watched me on TV.”

Zoe Bogarty, 10, of South Euclid was another camper having fun.

“I like to play basketball and I want to learn more,” Zoe said. “We’re learning the crossover and team defense.”

The St. Clare student said one of her favorite parts is simply warming up.

“I like to run,” Zoe said.

She also looks up to the Blazers.

“That’s my dream,” Zoe said, “to play basketball in high school. I want to be like them.”

Marshall said it’s helpful to have the shoe on the other foot.

“I definitely see it,” Marshall said. “I see where coach Barlow comes from. He tells us something and then we don’t do it right away. It’s a good feeling to be in coach Paul’s shoes.

“I think the camp is a really great camp. It’s very well organized and we have good times. I would definitely recommend it.”

Poland agreed with Marshall.

“I can see how coaching can be tough sometimes,” Poland said. “They don’t always want to listen. You have to make a connection.”

Brzozowski said she sees herself in the girls.

“Of course, they’re just like us,” Brzozowski said. “They want to rebel a little bit. They want to prove something. But they’re good kids. They all follow directions well. They want to learn.”

Brzozowski was asked if she’ll think back to the camp when she’s practicing with the varsity team in the winter.

“At that point, I’ll be too tired to think about it,” Brzozowski said.

Lavelle attended the camps in the past and now is a counselor.

“It’s a lot of fun to work with the kids and to get to know them,” Lavelle said. “It makes me feel good. I thought the counselors were the coolest (when she was younger). I wanted to be a counselor and now I am.”

HB hosts a second basketball camp for girls in grades seventh through nine. It runs from July 16-20. For more information, contact Barlow at (216) 320-8792.

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