Page 49 - Spring 2021

s| ACTIVE LIVING
America holds basketball team together
By George Zeliff
There’s nobody more energized in a huddle than North Oconee High School basketball shooting guard America Baker.
“She brings the spirit, and she’s incredibly fun to be around,” said Coach Erick Willis. “She’s fast and reads offenses very quickly. She gets a lot of steals and is a great shooter.”
Willis then added, “We’re missing her right now.”
Baker couldn’t attend winter-break practice because she was visiting her grandparents in Mexico. Then early in the semester, she suffered a concussion, which caused her to miss most of the Titan’s region schedule. Even though she wasn’t playing, she was a tremendous help to athletic trainer Catherine Colquitt. During previous seasons, Baker was the only trainer available, so her insight this year was incredibly valuable.
Although only five feet tall, Baker is a key player on the team basketball team.
Junior Annika Bonds bragged on Baker’s “positive touch” as exemplified by her frequent pats on the back and the way she treats an injury.
“We took a survey, and I called [America] the hype person,” Bonds said. “At every practice and every game, she’s there no matter what. Concussion or not, she’s there. At practice, she’s screaming. With every 3-pointer, she gives us high fives and pats our backs.”
Once basketball season ended, Baker shifted her focus to track season. She runs the 4 x 100-meter relay, the individual 100- meter event, and she long jumps for the Titans track and field team.
Baker’s biggest goal for her senior season is to take a second off her 100-meter time. She only ran at three meets in 2020 due to COVID-19, but in 2019, Baker ran a personal record of 13.44 seconds in the 100-meter event.
“I’m so excited for track; it’s just a good environment,” Baker said. “It’s fun, and I love my coaches.”
Next year, Baker will enroll at the University of North Georgia’s Oconee campus. She plans on studying kinesiology and may consider a career as an athletic trainer.
Baker takes a shot while warming up before one of her games. She will attend the University of North Georgia next year and is considering a career as an athletic trainer.
North Oconee High School basketball player America Baker is a positive spirit for the team. She takes on the roles of hype person and trainer.
sGeorge Zeliff is a sports intern for The Oconee Enterprise newspaper in Watkinsville, Ga.
SPRING 2021 | OCONEE THE MAGAZINE | PAGE 47
Justin Hubbard Courtesy America Baker