“I think the number one lesson basketball has taught me is to never give up, in a game, there is always the next play so you cannot be stuck on one thing that happened,” Merritt said.

Senior Captain Desiree Merritt has been chosen as East’s Athlete of the Week for her ability to face challenges on and off the court and her constant demonstration of E.A.S.T. ‘s core values of excellence, academics, spirit, and tradition.

Merritt is a four-year varsity athlete at East and has been playing since fourth grade. Her years of experience has helped shape her character to succeed in High School. She believes her time playing has helped her be able to express bold leadership this season.

“Its definitely been a lot of weight on my shoulders, being one of the captains, one of the leaders. But, I have the experience so I’m ready to dive into this season head first, with a lot of confidence,” Merritt said.

Teammate Senior Nicole Warbinski has been playing alongside Desiree for the past 4 years of high school. Warbinski believes Merritt is a big contributor to the team chemistry and creating a supportive, uplifting environment.

“Desiree brings so much energy and positivity to the team. She works hard, supports everyone, and always steps up when we need her. She’s the kind of teammate who makes everyone around her better,” Warbinski said.

Having good team chemistry is important to perform well on the court, no one player can win a game. The Wolves are a great example of a team who works together to be great.

“We all gel together, making it easier to go out and perform.” Merritt said.

Along with her teammates, Merritt also credits her coach for helping her achieve her success.

“My coaches are really supportive. They really have a connection with everybody on the team. So it’s easy to be coachable and really listen,” Merritt said.

Varsity Coach Abraham Carretto, expresses that Merritt is a great player and very deserving of her spot on the team. He also believes Merritt embodies the role of a captain. She has earned her spot of captain by all showing up for her team and never failing to be committed to the sport.

“Desiree’s desire to win and push her teammates to a higher competitive level is something that can be rare in a teammate,” Carretto said.

Merritt is dedicated to her game, going above and beyond to put in as much effort as possible during both games and practices.

“She is the first one done in many conditioning drills which will push some of her teammates to try and beat her or if in a drill, Dez will compete with them 100% of the time… If you were to watch Desiree one may think that her unbelievable athletic ability is why she is so good, but I’ve witnessed the countless hours she has put in to bring the skill of basketball into that athletic ability.” Carretto said.

As for future plans and goals, as Merritt is currently entering her senior season, she has a goal of 1,000 points over her career at East and winning their first regional game. 

Desiree’s plans after high school is to continue playing basketball at St. Francis University and study marketing. Merritt has flourished in playing high school basketball and is expected to continue to do great things as she continues her career. 

Written by senior Hannah Groh. Edited by staff writers for Oswego East’s online news magazine The Howl.