A steady rain in the morning. Showers continuing in the afternoon. High 71F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..
The term student-athlete is tossed around quite a bit recently, but when you really come across one, they stand out to you. Especially after their playing career comes to an end.
For the last four years, Landon Poniatowski played center for the Nitro High School Wildcats basketball team. Meanwhile, Poni – as his teammates and friends call him – has handled his classes with a 3.5 GPA as he approaches the end of his senior year.
Four years of one person’s life playing on an athletic team, no matter what their age is, is a period of time that always creates memories, and for Poni that has been the case. “It has meant everything to not only me and the team, but to the community,†he said. “We grew up together, making history in different categories, like the first state tournament win in decades and the first time in the state finals. To be part of all that is very special and dear to my heart.â€
Any student-athlete who has competed in a sport always hopes and wants to see growth in themselves and the team they play for during that run. Sitting in an office during a class break, Poni acknowledged fortunately that has been the case for him and his fellow Wildcats.
“I think we continued to grow because of the off-court chemistry that we have. We are always around each other, talking to each other. It’s just a different kind of bond. You hear a lot about brotherhoods, but that is what we have here at Nitro, and it has only gotten stronger throughout my four years. We were not only playing for each other, but for the name on the front of the jersey and the community, which always has been behind us 100 percent.â€
One school official who has enjoyed watching Poni grow into the student-athlete that he is currently, is Nitro Principal Brian Barth. “Poni has grown into a truly exemplary example of what we hope to see out of students as they grow into young adults in high school,†Barth said. “He has become a student leader, an invaluable volunteer and a powerhouse of school spirit. He has made the most of his time with us and we are proud of all of his accomplishments.â€
Along with his tenure on the Wildcat basketball team, Poni was elected as Class President by his fellow students for his senior year.
Last month, as Poni previously mentioned, Nitro played in the first State Basketball AAA Championship game in the school’s history, losing to Bridgeport. Again, Poni believes the team’s togetherness was a driving force in getting them to the championship doorstep. “That was everything. When you have a team of 15 guys working as one, it’s a different mentality, in fact it’s a winning mentality. In the beginning years you really didn’t see that. We had struggles, but we figured it out and by doing that, we became closer and look how far we got. To see how much this team grew together is probably going to be my biggest take away from my four years.â€
So, what’s next for Poni? Well it looks like basketball is not going to be in the picture according to the young Wildcat. “I think I have sprained my ankles 14 times. One day, not long ago, I thought to myself I could keep going and grin it out or I could take my time, figure out where I want to go to college and head in that direction. I decided it was time to work on being an adult.â€
Moving forward, Poni has plans to be a special education teacher, yet again defining the role of a true student-athlete.
