If there’s one thing head basketball coach Brian Nemecek preaches to his team, it’s the importance of family. It’s one of the base messages he sends to his teams each year at Westside, and is something he values in his own life. It only makes sense that when Nemecek’s mother in law, Carol Whitney, passed away Dec. 12 2015, it was tough news for him to hear. Whitney had been a Westside supporter ever since Nemecek started coaching, and came to almost every game, especially when Nemecek’s son Brock played basketball.

“She was just a very supportive person and loving grandmother and mother,” Nemecek said. “I guess it’s what people do that love their family, and she was one of those people.”

Not only did Whitney’s passing affect Nemecek, but the players as well. After every game, Whitney would wait for Nemecek, but as he was caught up talking with the other coaches and press, the players would meet Whitney first. Players would interact with Whitney, often with a hug, followed by a “good game” or piece of advice from Whitney the players would relish and follow for the next game.

Having been on varsity for three years, senior AJ Meeks has had plenty of positive interactions with Whitney.

“I liked seeing her after the game was over because no matter win or lose she would always say, ‘Just get better, it’s going to be alright’ and I’ll always remember that,” Meeks said.

After Whitney’s passing, the team has embraced the family aspect even more by remembering Whitney and her legacy through a new breakdown in huddles. Before Whitney’s passing, the team would always break the huddle on “family” to remember that the team is one family playing together. Now, the team breaks the huddle on Whitney’s initials, “CW’s” (Pronounced see-dubs).

“We just went with her initials […] to giver her props for being a good fan and the grandmother and mother she was,”Nemecek said.

After Nemecek presented the idea to the players, they immediately supported it and have been using the “CW’s” breakdown ever since. While “CW’s” mainly pertains to Nemecek’s family, it represents the team and remembering loved ones lost and the importance of family.

After embracing this, Nemecek and the team have seen changes not just on their personal perspective, but the team’s play on the basketball court.

“I think that we definitely changed our attitude and perspective on playing,” Meeks said. “Especially if we break it down on her [Whitney], we can’t come out and lay down for anybody no matter what team we play. We used to play selfishly and we were all about who’s going to score more points, but after we started breaking down on CW’s we just started playing for the name’s on our jersey, which is Westside.”