News

New Lakers represent SLC on the hardcourt

By Jeff Kurowski
Compass Assistant Editor

MANITOWOC -- Junior Paul Benson is not only studying history at Silver Lake College, he's making it on the basketball court as one of the co-captains of the college's first ever men's basketball team.

"That's why I came here," said Benson, a history and political science major from Janesville. "I'm excited to be a part of the legacy. That was the biggest selling point. Not many players get a chance to be a part of something like this."

The men's team is the latest expansion of the college's athletic program. Silver Lake's women's basketball program dates back to the early 1980s. Men's and women's cross country debuted in 2005.

"This is awesome," said Scott Farr, head coach of the men's team. "I'm excited about our program. Our goal is to continue to grow and improve. I tell our players to 'believe and achieve.' I think they are starting to believe and I'm excited about our season. We want to get better night in and night out. I have put together a team that has bought into that. They are on board with me and they work hard in practice. I'm proud of this team."

The Lakers are off to a 1-6 start, posting the first victory in program history on Nov. 12, a 51-45 win over UW-Manitowoc. Silver Lake plays its home games at the UW-Manitowoc Fieldhouse.

"Our season has been up and down so far, but on a positive note we've been competitive in most of our games," said Farr. "We are all learning together. We all learn from each other. We would like to have more wins, but the players need to keep things in perspective as a first-year program. The coach also has to keep that in perspective. I need to take a step back every once in awhile and assess things. We have to continue to have fun and enjoy the game of basketball."

There is not a blueprint for starting a new college men's basketball program, added Farr, but he has been able to call on his past coaching experiences. Farr, a Wausau native, has coached at both the high school and college levels, including stints at UW-Eau Claire and UW-Marathon.

The Lakers field a young team in the program's inaugural season. The roster features one senior, three juniors and nine freshmen. The team played in a recreational league last summer to help build chemistry.

"It was a good opportunity for us to get together," said Benson, who previously played at UW-Rock County in Janesville. "Some of us played against each other in junior college and Nick Krahn (senior point guard) was a teammate of mine, otherwise we really didn't know each other."

Benson first met Farr following a game between UW-Rock County and UW-Fond du Lac.

"I was definitely skeptical at first," said Benson. "I wondered if it was a legitimate program. Coach Farr cleared that up. I am from a small private high school (Oakhill Christian), so this is a good fit for me."

"We all get along great," said freshman point guard Darnell Shaw of Milwaukee. "I'm thankful to be a part of a new program. Right now, I'm not getting a lot of minutes, but when I come into the game, I try to make things happen to help the team."

Shaw, whose twin brother, Demetrius, is also a member of the Lakers, said he appreciates the fan support the team received right away.

"There are a lot more girls than guys at Silver Lake," he said. "They (women students) come to the games with our names on their shirts. It's pretty crazy. They have fun."

"The support has been really good, especially from the faculty," said Benson. "They ask us about our games. There's a strong interest in the team."

Prospective long-term building plans at Silver Lake include an on-site athletic building for basketball. The team currently is not part of a conference. Farr said the Lakers will become either a NCAA Division III or NAIA Division II program.

The team tries to reflect the Catholic mission of the college, said Farr. Prayer is a part of practices and games.

"Andy Brice (junior co-captain from De Pere) hurt his knee badly and was taken to the hospital," said Benson. "I led the team in prayer and coach thought it was good for us to pray together."

"We huddle up in prayer," said Farr. "We pray before games, and do it after every practice. We huddle at half-court after games and invite the opposing players to be part of it with us. God has brought us together and has given us this opportunity, so prayer is important."

The Lakers return to action on Dec. 21 when they host Judson College. The team has 13 games remaining on its schedule. While Farr is looking for more wins, he also hopes his team enjoys the journey.

"I've had some of my past players come to see us play this season," he said. "Down the road, it's about the friendships you build. I know I've taken a little bit from every person I've ever worked with. I want these players to know that they can be a part of this as long as they want. When they have moved on, they can pick up a phone and call me. I want them to be my eyes and ears in the future. If they see a player who they think I should look at, I want them to let me know. When building a program, you always want to add players and have the next group be better, but this is a great group. They have really worked hard."