Page 21 - APRIL2022

April 2022 NEWFOUNDLAKELIFE.COM Page 21 Sports
Off the Hook
April’s Shining Star: Lexi Bassett By alex soBolov
Newfound Senior Lexi Bas- sett has made an impact at the high school in more ways than one. It is rare to find a high school student volunteering so much of her free time without expecting anything in return. Lexi is a great student who will finish in the top 20% of her class and is a two-year member of the National Honor Society. She is kind, respectful and con- sistently demonstrates a strong work ethic. Lexi also stands out in how much she goes above and beyond in supporting New- found Athletics.
Lexi is a strong athlete and has participated in girls’ soc- cer and softball for four years. On the soccer field, Lexi’s leadership was rewarded with being named a two-year var- sity captain and forever being identified as the “first goalie in Newfound Girls Soccer his- tory.” In addition, she played an instrumental part in bring- ing girls’ soccer to Newfound. Her efforts, along with many others, were highlighted in 2021 as they completed the first regularly scheduled (non- COVID) varsity season. This spring, Lexi is expecting to be the lone returning senior to the softball team, where she will be looked upon to lead by example for the younger athletes.
Lexi’s athletic leadership goes far beyond the playing field. She has been an active participant in the Student Ath- letic Leadership Team (SALT) at Newfound for the past three
years. In addition to being on SALT at Newfound, she is also a member of the Student Leadership Committee with the NHIAA. There is not a “SALT” sponsored activity that occurs where Lexi Bassett is not involved in. Whether it is hanging balloons for a field hockey playoff game, introduc- ing the Athletics Hall of Fame Inductees, hanging signs in the gym for a big volleyball game, collecting cans for “NH Tack- les Hunger,” or handing out bracelets at a basketball playoff game, Lexi Bassett is always available to help. She is the definition of a team player and always prepared to promote Newfound Athletics.
Another one of Lexi’s re- deeming qualities is her sup- port for the Special Olympics and Unified Sports. This win- ter, Lexi will again be “taking
the plunge” for the annual Special Olympics High School Dip. She has participated in this event throughout her high school career as a volunteer and a donating member. She has also been a regular vol- unteer at the annual Special Olympics athletic events held in New Hampshire. In addi- tion, she has been a manager for the unified basketball team for two years and a participant in the 2019 Lakes Region Uni- fied Prom.
Lexi is a well-round young lady who is an appreciated member of the Newfound community. Her positive at- titude is admirable and un- doubtedly has rubbed off on her teammates and classmates around the school. The New- found Athletic Department has greatly benefited from the pres- ence of Lexi Bassett.
By mJC
It’s getting to be that time of year again of a lot of us. The ice and snow are soon going to be an after thought and we are starting to get our fishing gear out and in shape for another season, and for me, not a minute too soon. Spring means open water fish- ing opportunities, so pack up the ice accoutrements and get your spinning and baitcasters in shape, oiled up and restrung. Don’t for- get to sharpen or replace those hooks, seasoned anglers do this as a matter of habit, but in our haste to get to the water we sometimes bypass these steps and may soon regret it. We may have done everything else cor- rectly, such as lure selection and presentation, ideal location at the right time, outrageous hook set, and still miss catching that fish. Sharpen or replace dull and rusty hooks, it will pay dividends.
In step with maintaining tackle, make the most of the time available now to maintain your boats and trailers before hit- ting the roads and waters. Check wheel bearings and refresh or replace batteries, refresh gear case oil, check and fill engine oil, check and replace water pumps.
These are some of the most com- mon areas of failure, and they are things that most people can do without having to take it to the pros’. If you have a decent set of tools and a place to work on your stuff, you can save yourself a bunch of money and frustra- tion. Getting stuck on the side of the road with burnt wheel bear- ings, or on the ramp with dead batteries will turn an otherwise stellar day into an expensive and exasperating experience for all in involved. We have all seen it, and some of us have fallen victim to it. Keep in mind that as the days get longer, so too will your time spent waiting to get your boat worked on if you are not me- chanically inclined. Most boat owners can accomplish many of these preventative maintenance tasks with a bit of due diligence. Your manufacturers owners’ manuals cover some of the more basic tasks, or you can buy the expensive maintenance manuals, or you can get a wealth of infor- mation online. Invest in yourself and keep the wolves at bay. As Benjamin Franklin stated, “An ounce of preparation is worth a pound of cure”.
Don’t be that guy!
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