General News
10 August, 2022
Seahawks legend hones skills
TERANG College students were put through their paces on the court last week with Warrnambool Seahawks legend Tim Gainey hosting a basketball clinic.
TERANG College students were put through their paces on the court last week with Warrnambool Seahawks legend Tim Gainey hosting a basketball clinic.
The American import brought a wealth of knowledge for students to draw from.
Hailing from Colorado Springs, Colorado, Mr Gainey played collegiate basketball at Southern Utah University before joining the Warrnambool Seahawks in 2006.
He said having the opportunity to work with Terang College students to hone their dribbling and jump shots was a welcome experience.
“We’re getting around the community,” Mr Gainey said.
“Terang College is one of the schools that wanted to do some basketball so I’ve been at the P-4 campus working with Years 3-4 before heading over to the 5-12 campus."
“It was a busy day but it’s great to get around the community."
“Usually I am in Warrnambool but it’s good to get around Terang, Camperdown and those kinds of towns to teach the kids some skills.”
Mr Gainey said the clinic had drawn rave reviews from participating students.
“The kids love it,” he said.
“I think with COVID-19 restrictions over the last couple of years, getting kids outside and playing sport is something they are enjoying a lot more than sitting around the housedoing nothing."
“It’s been good, the reception has been good and the kids have done great with an upbeat attitude."
“There has been some raw skill but the biggest thing has been they’ve all got smiles on their faces.”
Basketball has been enjoying a surge in popularity across south west Victoria in recent years, which Mr Gainey credits to the on-court success of south west natives.
“It’s booming,” he said.
“I think we’ve got some successful locals like Justin Wallace, who was one of the big ones from Terang who came over to play with the Warrnambool Seahawks."
“Bobby Cunningham has done a lot of clinics this way including coaching a few Terang squads, and we’ve got a couple of girls from Terang playing over in Warrnambool squads."
“Obviously having Nathan Sobey from Warrnambool making the Olympic team, kids can see the dream of playing basketball is reachable.”