Railers make Senior Night extra special

[February 17, 2019] 

Lincoln Community High School recognized an amazing group of 2019 seniors Saturday night. The students have dedicated their high school careers to either Railer athletics or music performance.

The 2019 list includes:

Band
See Photo Album

Laura Centers
Kaleb Franklin
Samantha Lewis
Hunter McKinney
Kathryn VanSlambrouck

Dance
See Photo Album

Grace Bobb
Audrey Dennison
Paige Langley
Grace Montgomery

Cheer
See Photo Album

Kacey Bennett
Shannon Cabit
Alivia Catey
Hailey Ollis
Jesica Patterson
Ashton Rodriguez

Basketball
See Photo Album

Wyatt Collier
Jermaine Hamlin
Evan Ewins
Virat Patel

While the basketball game on the court is often the center of attention, it's important to note that without the band, a quiet atmosphere would be just unbearable. The significance of the dancers and cheerleaders ranks right up there because without their enthusiasm and entertainment folks are just sitting on the bleachers, clapping at an occasional basket.

And while the senior basketball players earn a lot of the applause and attention from fans, it's the work of two guys at the end of the bench who really keep Coach Neil Alexander's squad on track.

Senior managers Evan Ewins and Virat Patel work without complaint game after game to keep things running smoothly for the players. They don't just fetch water and towels for tired and sweaty players. They also cheer on the players, encourage the fans and throw their hands up in the air and jump out of their seats the minute a three goes in the air. They love Railer basketball passionately and it shows.

The managers have the best seat in the house and through their hard work they have earned the respect of Coach Neil Alexander. After Lincoln's 60-49 win over Decatur Eisenhower on Senior Night, Coach Alexander led off his comments with words about team managers Evan Ewins and Virat Patel.

"Both of them have been with me four years now and it's things like cleaning up, it's not cleaned up yet tonight because they are in with the players," began Alexander. "In with the players" meant that Ewins and Patel were in the cafeteria after the game.

Saturday night was the fan appreciation and autograph night that featured Pork BBQ in the cafeteria free to fans.

"But I think they are just as important as the players," continued Alexander. "They come to help us, help the coaches and help the kids. They do it out of the kindness of their heart and I am going to miss both of those guys because it's something that I don't have to worry about.

"They always check out at the end of the night to make sure that everything is done correctly. They're really important to us. They've got the best seat in the house and that's another reason you'd want to do this job," smiled Alexander.

"We've got to look and try to find some other people to be able to step in and fill their shoes because Trent (Butterfield) will struggle if he's got to do it by himself. There's a lot to do."

Incoming freshman and others take note, there are job openings on the Railer staff.

As for Railer basketball players, Wyatt Collier and Jermaine Hamlin, Alexander offered additional kind words.

"Wyatt played for three years. I only wish he would've played last year," said Alexander. "He's a great kid. He works hard and what he does is he just wants to play basketball. Whether it's Friday night or through the week in practice, he just doesn't like to stand on the sidelines. He will go over to the scout team and he will play and get on the court.

"Those are the type of kids you need to prepare your team and they are part of the team and nobody sees what they do to help our team and that's an important part. He's willing to do all of that and he's a class act.

"You don't hear one bad word from him or complaining about any of the running or anything that has to go along with it. He just enjoys being here and I am really thrilled that he decided to play this year."

"And Jermaine you know, everybody has seen how he's improved. Probably in the years of my coaching, he's the most improved player from the time they started as a freshman to a senior. He's a very soft-hearted kid and he works hard at it. He is always the first one at the gym. He's an outstanding individual.

"His best playing days are going to be five years from now. You know, when he gets bigger and grows into his body, he's gonna go play somewhere and somebody's gonna put 25 pounds on him and when he comes back to Lincoln, I hope he comes back and visits, you probably won't even know him because he's just got a body that is gonna be able to carry a lot more weight and put on a lot more strength. It looks like he's clumsy and everything out there but big kids take longer to grow into their bodies than an average size kid. He's come a long way."

Alexander sees a future where Hamlin will continue to work hard and get better and play college basketball somewhere.

While Senior Night at Roy S. Anderson Gymnasium Saturday night was all about the 2019 seniors being recognized along with their parents, it also featured a little unwanted recognition but much-deserved respect for Lincoln coach Neil Alexander.

Coach Alexander's Railers defeated Wheaton Warrenville South 49-37 back on February 9, 2019 to give the veteran coach 827 career wins and move him into sole possession of third place on the list of all-time winningest coaches in Illinois history.

Private school coaches Gene Pingatore (987) and Steve Goers (881) sit above Alexander on the all-time list. Alexander was presented the game ball from win no. 827 just prior to the varsity tip-off Saturday night as his players all huddled around him in excitement.

After all the interviews concluded following Saturday night's win, Alexander greeted his dad, Elmer, with smiles and a hug on the court.

That court with his name etched in the hardwood was filled with kids of all ages, running around and tossing little basketballs through the air. Little basketballs that they had gotten earlier in the evening from the Railer cheerleaders.

Among those little kids running around were Alexander's grandchildren. The life of a basketball coach and their family is very challenging and requires a lot of understanding, no doubt, but at times like these it must be very rewarding to look around and see all that it has created ~ smiles, and lots of them.

Congratulations to all of the teams responsible for these 827 wins and congratulations to Coach Neil Alexander!

[Teena Lowery]