End of an era for North Penn Trio

The+girls+basketball+team+poses+for+a+photo+after+their+season+opener.

Anissa Gardizy

The girls’ basketball team poses for a photo after their season opener.

At the end of every athletic season, teams must say goodbye to their senior athletes. Often, one might say there was an “end of an era” after certain athletes graduate a program. Now, sometimes this is an affectionate way of congratulating senior athletes, and sometimes it is genuinely true. This year on the girls’ basketball team, there really was an end of an era after 4 years of Sam Carangi, Jess Huber, and Irisa Ye on the court.

Four years ago, Coach Maggie deMarteleire had a feeling she was getting three very talented freshman. After watching their middle school basketball games, there wasn’t much of a surprise when Carangi, Huber, and Ye showed up for high school tryouts as freshmen.

“I’ll never forget watching the middle school game played at North Penn before one of our games. Irisa didn’t play in eighth grade, but Carangi and Huber really stood out on the court. It was fun for to watch them, and I knew something special was coming up,” said deMarteleire.

The three athletes made the varsity roster as freshmen; Carangi was a starter, and Huber and Ye were usually the first off the bench during a game.

As a freshman, Sam was just bright and bubbly. She wasn’t intimidated at all. Jess, on the other hand, stayed in the back, took everything in, learned, and improved. Then there was Irisa. She was so quiet- she didn’t speak to anyone

— Coach deMarteleire

“As a freshman, Sam was just bright and bubbly. She wasn’t intimidated at all. Jess, on the other hand, stayed in the back, took everything in, learned, and improved. Then there was Irisa. She was so quiet- she didn’t speak to anyone,” said deMarteleire.

The girls remember each other as freshmen on the team, and there was a common consensus when asked about what Ye was like four years ago.

“It was like pulling teeth to get her to talk,” joked Huber, “Obviously that has changed now.”

This year, the girls’ led the Knights to the be fifth in their District and play in the quarterfinals of state playoffs. Carangi and Huber both made it to the 1,000 points club, and Ye was incredibly close. Until this year, the Knights have never had two players hit 1,000 in the same year; this year, they almost had three.

“A lot of people didn’t think we could do as much as we did this season; I think we proved a lot of people wrong,” said Carangi.

One major reason for the Knights’ successful season was the leadership of the senior captains. They were able to make everyone feel welcome, creating the ideal team atmosphere.

Whenever we do drills, we always partner up with the younger kids to make them feel more comfortable on the team. Friendship is a huge part of our team

— Sam Carangi

“Whenever we do drills, we always partner up with the younger kids to make them feel more comfortable on the team. Friendship is a huge part of our team,” said Carangi.

The captains  made it their mission to embrace their leadership role not only on the court, but  off the court as well.

“They had a great balance of working hard and having fun. Outside of our games and practices they made sure everyone went to team dinners or sleepovers to help the team bond,” said deMarteleire.

Carangi, Huber, and Ye have made the past four years of North Penn basketball successful , so the team next year will have big shoes to fill.

“We played with a big target on our bag all season because of those three, so to come out 25-5 and win the conference is pretty impressive,” deMarteleire, “I couldn’t be more proud.”