What It Means "To Have Given It All"

2/10/2023 4:01:00 PM

By: Evan Weber & Andrew Heidemann

Steubenville, Ohio

Every senior has a unique basketball journey. Whether it's a 6'6 forward who battled injuries to emerge as a star, or a 6'3 guard who reignited his faith, every player has encountered wildly different experiences to come to this small town called Steubenville. But one thing remains the same. Each senior has played a pivotal part in this basketball program, and the Barons wouldn't be the same team today without them.

Aidan Hickey:
The 5'10 Ohio native began his basketball journey in the driveway of his Cleveland home. As Aidan started to walk, he was already competing against his older brother and developing his passion for basketball.

Fast forward to high school, Hickey began getting serious about basketball during his junior year and he put in a lot of hard work that eventually paid off as he was named a starter for his senior year. His teammates respected his grind and effort so much that he was voted team captain. Towards the end of his senior year, Hickey remembers particularly one moment where he looked around the court and thought to himself looking around thinking "that this is it." His days playing competitive basketball were over, or so he thought.

After high school, Hickey attended Ave Maria University and played baseball for two years before he decided that he wanted to transfer to Franciscan and play basketball with his older brother Sean. Another reason that Hickey chose to transfer to Franciscan was the Catholic faith and that it was openly lived throughout the campus.
Hickey knew that he would have to put in a lot of work to get back to where he was in high school. One of the bigger changes he had to make in his regimen was having to go from baseball shape to basketball shape. "Had to go away from the heavy lifting, to be more cardio focused" Hickey said.

In Hickey's first year in a Baron uniform, Hickey started 14 games for the Barons, had 22 steals and was the team leader in 3-point percentage with a .450 average.
This year Hickey has started 9 games and averaged 20 minutes per game along with averaging 7 points per game, and 15 steals on the season.

In addition to excelling on the court, Hickey learned many valuable lessons during his time at Franciscan but the one that impacted him the most was learning how to respond to adversity. Playing basketball at Franciscan helped him grow as a man and as a leader on the team.

"It was a great lesson for life to learn how to deal with a punch that life gives you." -Aidan Hickey

Garrett Lancaster:
If Garrett Lancaster could be described in one word, it would be "work hard". That's actually two words, but Garrett never settled with what he was asked to do. The 5'11 guard always puts in 110 percent for team, always pushing the team in the gym and in practice. Growing up in Dallas, Texas, Garrett was inspired by his older sister to play basketball. Despite a difficult high school career, his constant drive to succeed led him to Franciscan. As a freshman, Garrett had a hard time fitting in, but some seniors on the team encouraged him to become a better player. Now, Garrett has carved himself into a strong leader, inspiring young players to be the best person they can be. As someone who doesn't get much playing time, Garrett didn't have to work this hard. Assistant coach Adam Martello said "It would have been really easy for Garrett after his sophomore year to quit, or quit working. And he did the opposite of that." Garrett put in far more work than what he was asked to do, and as a result, became an essential part of this team. What's the secret to his success? How did he become such a strong leader with such a small amount of playing time? According to Garrett, the answer is simple: "I just work hard for my teammates in practice, I can be the best player I can be for them". Two words, but they mean so much. Work hard.

"No matter what the situation is, whether you're playing or not, always give all you can to your teammates in every aspect."
-Garrett Lancaster

Colton Hage:
For Colton Hage, Franciscan isn't just about basketball. The long trip to Steubenville signified a drastic change in his life, reigniting his love for his faith. The 6'3 guard from California picked up a basketball when he was five, and he kept playing ever since. Colton played two years at community college, but he decided to take a break once the pandemic hit. During that time, Colton was always trying to achieve something, but he never found true satisfaction: "I was chasing something. I think a lot of times, my outlet was basketball. The next best thing. The next school. The next line of statistics. The next something that would bring me satisfaction." Ultimately, Colton found rest in his renewed faith for Christ. After a gap year, he wanted to play basketball in an environment where he could learn more about the Lord. Eventually, he transferred to Franciscan University. In his first season for the Barons, Colton shined as a vital spark off the bench, averaging nearly 10 points per game. While he was fantastic on the court, assistant coach Adam Martello was impressed by Colton's faith and composure: "What strikes me about Colt is just how faithful he is in everything. You talk about living the faith, he just embodies that". In his second season, Colton earned his place as a consistent starter for the Barons. The senior guard is now third in scoring for the team, while being one of the most efficient players on the court. You will regularly see Colton explode for a flurry of points. As head coach Joe Wallace puts it: "He's due for a big game any day now". While Colton has risen to become a star for this team, he always remembers what really counts. Colton himself said it best: "Keep focus on the Lord, and what will follow will be better than anything you could create for yourself."

Travis Lien:
Tearing your ACL is one of the worst injuries you can get in basketball. And Travis Lien has torn it three times. For any normal player, this would have been devastating. Many would have quit basketball right then and there. But Travis didn't let injury stop him. The 6'6 forward always found a way to help his team, whether it's refereeing practice games or cleaning the bench. But when he's on the court, no one can stop him. Travis is a unique talent that can utilize his size to pound the interior while having the finesse and handle to create an outside shot. In addition to his offensive skill-set, Travis is a defensive menace, averaging 1.7 blocks per game this season. Even with injury after injury, Travis fought his way to the top. He's that good. "If Travis never tears his ACL, he could have been the player of the year for this conference multiple times". Head coach Joe Wallace didn't say that lightly. Travis Lien truly has the tools and talents to be at the top. Currently, he leads the team in scoring with 17.7 points per game, along with 6 rebounds and 1.1 steals. Who knows what could've happened if Travis was never injured? But we shouldn't wonder about the past. Travis, right now, already contributes so much to this team. Not only does he lead the Barons on the court, but his strong work ethic and unrelenting drive inspires everyone around him. Travis Lien may be one of the biggest "what ifs" in Baron history. But Travis never settled with "what if?". He fights for the now, here, and always.

Conclusion: The seniors have made a tremendous impact on this group of young men who've battled this year game after game. Although the win-loss column might not reflect it, the hearts and minds of the current players have been changed by their veteran presence.

Let's support and honor the seniors for all they have done for Baron Basketball as they play in their final home game on Saturday evening against the Westminster Titans.

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