As seniors prepare to depart the Circle they have called home for the past four years, phenomenal senior JV players should be recognized for their dedication to the game in Groton’s sports history. Kogo Bennison ’24 and Fung Lam ’24, Groton’s remarkable Junior Varsity basketball stars, are two of many JV athletes that have left a mark on the home courts and influenced the development of the game.
The notion of team, to Kogo, is family. When the dark and gray sky overshadows the entire Groton School during the gloomy winter, the team is a ray of warmth that excites his spirits. In practice, Kogo was able to play the sport he loves and meet younger students on the team. He refers to practice as “the most important event that he always looks forward to in the day.”
For Fung, the JV team upholds the essence of connectivity. Getting to know a lot of new people further spurs Fung’s deep love for basketball. In his free time, Fung enjoys playing basketball with his close friends—Kogo, Zimo Liu, and Alex Ma. They often play together to lift their spirits during the cold, gloomy winter days.
Kogo and Fung celebrated a memorable victory on St. Mark’s Day two years ago. However, their away game at St. Mark’s last season presented the greatest challenge of their careers and proved to be the most rewarding. Kogo said, “they got completely owned and destroyed by the massive player on the other team.” The referee, bearing the competitive spirit, also leaned towards the St. Mark’s team for many of his judgments. Despite not performing at their best and missing crucial free throws, Fung remains optimistic, saying, “Even though we lost, the experience of facing shared adversity as a team is irreplaceable and strengthened our bonds.”
Interestingly, both of their best memories involve Patrick Kennedy ’23. Kogo, who frequently paired with Patrick over the season, enjoyed their collaboration and appreciated Patrick’s hard work and dedication to the sport. Patrick provided mentorship and inspired Kogo to become a better, more resilient player, which has contributed to Kogo’s current abilities. Kogo proudly states that “Patrick Kennedy has established a positive atmosphere for younger players, and the chemistry has always been superior.”
Everything has an end. Now that Prize Day is approaching, Fung and Kogo have a few hopes that they wish younger players could carry on in the JV basketball program. Kogo expresses that “having fun” is the primary goal, encouraging all students to go on the court and pursue their passions without fear. Most important, he emphasizes, “Love all the time one receives on court. The time and season passes by very fast.” Fung encourages younger players to “balance fun and competitiveness.” He thinks that it is a wonderful experience to drive around New England for their games and wants everyone to cherish the games that only occur twice a week.
The JV teams on this Circle are not merely a stepping stone towards the varsity team, it is also a community of its own that has fostered unbreakable friendships and captured memories that will never be forgotten. Generations of these hard-working JV players have contributed to the entirety of Groton’s sports program, a critical building block to the great Zebra spirit.
