Welcome And Game Overview

SPEAKER_01 0:00

So, hello everybody. Welcome back to the Husky Huddle. Today we're talking about one of the most exciting community events that we hold. The OCSD Only Ann City School District staff versus the Western New York Law Enforcement Fundraiser Basketball Game. And this is going to be happening here on March 19th. It is a night where teachers trade their classrooms for the basketball court and face off against local law enforcement all for good cars. In this episode, we are joined by Chelsea Boker, one of the teachers that is going to be stepping on a court to represent our district. We will talk about the game, the friendly rivalry, and why events are like this bring our school and our community together. Let's jump on in. So welcome. Thank you. Awesome. Thank you for coming on. And we're going to begin by you giving me a little uh background about yourself. Tell me about yourself. And then we have a few questions so everybody can learn about this again.

SPEAKER_00 1:10

All right. So my name is Chelsea Boker. I've taught at Only Ann now. This will be my 11th year. Wow. Yes. Um, I was actually brought to OnlyN to play basketball for St. Fond Adventure. So I I've been here a while. I've been around basketball. And um, we're we're always very excited for this game.

SPEAKER_01 1:29

Okay, wonderful. So you maybe are a secret web. I may be, or not so secret. So um what made you decide to play in the game this year?

SPEAKER_00 1:44

Um playing in the game this year. I am playing in the game this year. Okay. I have played all four years. So me, Brandy Benion, um, we kind of came up with this idea to create this fundraiser because we're class advisors together. And if you didn't know, Brandy and I are both basket, both played basketball in college. Yeah. Um, so we don't get a lot of chances to do what we love. I mean, obviously we love teaching and we do that every day. Yeah, but um, we love basketball. And we thought it would just be something great for our students and our staff and our community. Yeah. Um, so that's kind of why we decided to do this and we love playing in it. And like I said, this will be our fourth year playing in it.

Skills, Practice, And Team Roles

SPEAKER_01 2:24

Awesome. So be honest with all of us. How would you describe your basketball skills right now? Are we talking like WNBA? Are we talking former MVP or just enthusiastic person on the courts?

SPEAKER_00 2:41

I'd like to think of myself as a very competitive person. So I am not an enthusiastic player. Right. I'm definitely going for MVP. I'm not the MVP. I think my skills are pretty high level. That's what I'm talking about. Claim it. All right. Have you been doing any training or practicing? Um, well, we get to shoot every day because Brandy and I are basketball coaches. So we get to sharpen our skills the whole season in preparation for this game.

SPEAKER_01 3:06

I think the gauntlet is being thrilled. It definitely is.

SPEAKER_00 3:10

They are practicing as much as you guys are because it already sounds like you've won it. We did invite them to have an open gym with us two times.

SPEAKER_01 3:18

So we'll see if anybody shows up, but uh, they might be already scared off, but it might be. Yes, it's coming. All right, all right, all right. Uh, do you have a specific role on the team yet, besides MVP?

SPEAKER_00 3:34

Um, I'm just the shooter. You're the shooter. I'm the shooter. Um, I don't really uh I'm not the best ball handler since I've been out of the game for a while. Yeah. So I definitely just go with shooter.

Hidden Talent On The Staff Team

SPEAKER_01 3:44

Yeah. And if I was there in on the court, I just want you to know that I'd be the person that would be standing in the corner of the court and never moved. I'd probably get in trouble. In other words, don't ask me to be on. All right, all right. Are there, however, now that you already know about my basketball prowess or lack of, are there any other surprisingly good basketball players in our building that we don't know about that you may want to hint about, but as we go into this game.

SPEAKER_00 4:20

Yes, I I mean our team is pretty stacked. We have we have people with good skills you might not know. I mean, we recently just hired a new HR director that I've seen and played with quite a bit. Wow. Another admin who's super good. They might be related. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Um, we have a math teacher that's pretty athletic, pretty quick, good defender. And we definitely have a janitor in this building that can shoot the lights out. Yeah. So, I mean, I've missed a few, and there's just so many. Um, but they're really fun to play with. And and I they're athletic.

What Students Think And Trash Talk

SPEAKER_01 4:55

Awesome. Yeah. Well, good. And that doesn't make me feel bad that I'm No, you're okay. Put me on the okay. Awesome. Awesome. And what do your students think about the fact that they have the teachers? And like you just said, all these other people in our district that are playing in a basketball game against law enforcement and going to win, of course.

SPEAKER_00 5:16

I think our students secretly love it. Um, we, I mean, even when we practice with our just our basketball girls, they they they play harder, they they enjoy it. Um, it's fun. And and I think it's a great way to see the for the students to see us in a different light. Like to see us kind of as normal people and not people who sleep and eat and live at Olean High School. So it's really good for them to see it in the especially the police, too. It's great for them to see that police are also normal people. Right. Um, these kids just see us in these professions every day. They don't see us outside of school. So to see us do something that's not our job, I think it's good for them.

SPEAKER_01 5:52

That's awesome. That's awesome. Have any students, not including uh staff, any students been giving you any advice or trash talking the other team?

SPEAKER_00 6:04

Um, I there are students in this building that do love to give unsolicited advice. Uh-huh. So, and they definitely like to talk a little trash and say that we're not gonna make any shots or they're gonna beat us again. So there's definitely some of those students. So we're definitely gonna try and bring it, bring it hard this year.

School Spirit And Community Impact

SPEAKER_01 6:24

Yes, you are. Oh my gosh, I know you're all gonna win this year. You're gonna win this year. So, how important are events like this for building school spirit and community connections?

SPEAKER_00 6:35

Like I said earlier, I think it's just really great for the students to see us in a different light. Um, I mean, we're a big presence in the kids' lives. Um, and then obviously the police force. I mean, we see them every day. Yeah. Um, so I think it, like I said, I think it's just really good. It brings us all together in the fact that we pack this gym. I mean, we've done this for four years now, and um, there's not enough seating space. There's people standing around this gym. So it really does bring a lot of people in. It's a fun night. Um, and it just shows like they have pride in us too, like the students do. You know what I mean? They want to come see us have fun too. So that's what I think is great about it.

SPEAKER_01 7:13

What does it mean um to you to see that type of uh dynamic in the community? So it's a fundraiser, but you guys get standing room only. You guys are on the court with law enforcement and teachers, and it's such a friendly competition. Um, what do you hope that parents, families, whoever comes takes away?

SPEAKER_00 7:40

I hope they take away that everyone here in Olean really does care about each other. Our students care about us, we care about our students and their families. We want we want to see them bring them in. Um, so I I think that would be the biggest thing. Awesome.

Revenge, Score Predictions, Walkout Song

SPEAKER_01 7:54

Awesome. All right. So, what are you most excited for for gang night?

SPEAKER_00 7:59

I we we need we need a little bit of revenge. Last year, they said that we had cheated. I'm not really sure we did. Um, I know. So we're looking for a little revenge this year. So that's what we're excited about.

SPEAKER_01 8:10

Yeah, yeah. And it sounds like you guys are ready. We've been working on this for a whole year. Three and a half sixty something days right now. You've been working. I hope you guys hear that. They've been working on it for 360 days of training to come back. Um, do you guys have special uniforms?

SPEAKER_00 8:27

Um, so we do not this year. We're we actually wear only in uniforms. So since I'm the girls' basketball coach, I I have privy to two uniforms. So we uh we usually do wear those. Okay, awesome.

SPEAKER_01 8:40

Do you think I know what I believe, but do you think our team has a real chance of beating the other team?

SPEAKER_00 8:50

Uh I do. And there is, and the reason I think this, not because we have new members to our team. We need a revenge from last year, but there's also a cop that walks around this building, and you know, he kind of throws the little shade every once in a while. So we just we're ready to prove him wrong. I know that's right. Okay. Any predictions for the final score?

SPEAKER_01 9:10

I think it'll be within five points. Really? I do. You don't think it's gonna be a blowout? I don't think it's gonna be like a hundred to twelve over the last four years.

SPEAKER_00 9:20

There's never been a blowout, so I don't see it.

SPEAKER_01 9:23

Okay, all right, all right.

SPEAKER_00 9:24

And what fun would that be? You know, we got to make it entertaining, so we might have to pull back a little bit to keep a score closer. Oh, yeah, so they can catch up.

SPEAKER_01 9:31

Yeah, you can make it an authentic right down. All right, got it, got it, got it. All right, so what song is gonna be your walkout song when you guys enter the gym?

SPEAKER_00 9:43

Have you thought about that yet? We have, and we've already put it out there. I'm not sure it's a secret, so I'll give a hint, but I was tipped off to request the song that might have Michael Jordan in the movies. So I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

SPEAKER_01 9:58

Okay, okay, I'll come in for the music too. All right, what's more nerve-wracking? Teaching a room full of students or taking a free throw with the entire gym watching.

SPEAKER_00 10:13

I'm gonna go teaching teaching students.

SPEAKER_01 10:16

That's right, because you're the MVP.

SPEAKER_00 10:18

It's like riding a bicycle.

Tickets, Where To Learn More, Closing

SPEAKER_01 10:21

All right, to close out, what would you say to encourage students, family, and community members to come out and support the game on March 19th?

SPEAKER_00 10:29

I would say just come enjoy a fun, relaxed, stressful, stress-free night. Yes, awesome. And where can people get more information or tickets for this event? Um, it is on our website and it is on the Oleanne School's Instagram page. Awesome.

SPEAKER_01 10:49

I am so excited to come and watch Oleanne win convincingly, excitingly, and uh completely unequivocally on March 19th here at the Oleanne High School. Hope to see you all there. Thank you so much for coming and huddle with me. And I hope everyone has a wonderful day. Seeing you on March 19th.