Guided by the leadership of their team captain, Charles Gass (12), Aliso Niguel’s varsity basketball team has had an amazing season this year. Ending the season with an extremely impressive 21-7 winning record, the team has shown unparalleled talent against their opponents.
Gass had been an integral part of Aliso Niguel’s Basketball team for three years, and has made many contributions to the team throughout. This year is Gass’s first year as a team captain and he takes accountability for the tenacious mentality that comes with the job.
Gass developed a passion for basketball at a young age. He tried multiple different sports but basketball was the one he enjoyed playing the most. He has been dedicated to playing the sport for ten years and has developed steadfast skills in the game. On the court, Gass fills the positions of point guard and shooting guard, occasionally transitioning to the position of power forward.
Being a team captain requires a significant amount of commitment to the conditioning and strength of the team. Using encouragement and motivation, Gass collaborates with his teammates to increase their drive and grit on the basketball court.
Noting the importance, Gass noted that “The responsibilities that come with being a team captain are very important. As a captain, I keep the team focused and motivated each day so that we can improve and play the way we need to in order to win.”
The varsity team made it to the Division 2 CIF playoffs this year. Unfortunately, on Feb. 7, the team lost their second playoff game against Corona Del Mar. Gass expressed his appreciation on the team’s return to CIF this year. This is the varsity team’s third consecutive appearance in CIF during Gass’s time on the team.
Gass offered insight, commenting “I feel very proud of how our team has done this year. We have battled injuries and illness through the year and have fought through it all.”
When asked about Charles, teammate Mozamel Hamid (12) said “I love playing with Charlie and he’s a great person on and off the court. In our short time together we’ve grown close and i’m really glad we got to spend senior year on the same team together”
Regarding his accomplishments, Gass explained that he values how his experiences playing on the team have led to an improved mentality and the enhanced ability to maintain thorough concentration under pressure.
As it is his last year at Aliso, Gass shared “I’ve learned a lot and made many great memories here, but I know it’s time that I take the next step in my life and pursue a higher education.”
Gass aspires to attend Cal State Long Beach and pursue a degree in chemical engineering, if given the opportunity to do so. He does not have any intentions of pursuing a professional basketball career but still plans to keep playing.
Gass is confident with the determination of his teammates and believes that the team has a good chance at achieving their goals in the future if they maintain their unwavering ambition in the pursuit of achieving their goals.
