Roman Ramirez is a senior at Glendale High School. He was born and raised in Glendale and has a passion for basketball. He is the captain of the boy’s varsity basketball team, and they just finished off their most successful season in over a decade. Outside of school and sports duties, Roman enjoys snowboarding from time to time, and he also works in his father’s office as a clerk.
Roman volunteers at Maple Park and Community Center as a camp counselor, and he organizes recreational activities for people in need. He enjoys being a part of the community and giving back to the city, and this is an important part of his life.
Roman has played the important role of basketball team captain, but his career started back during his freshman year when he randomly decided to show up to practice. Ever since then, he’s stuck with it and eventually took on a leadership role on the team.
Roman says that the basketball squad is like a family, and everybody always sticks together as a group. “Everyone is friends with each other,” he said. “There’s rarely any bad blood between any of us. We’re like a big family, [and] we all look out for each other.”
Roman describes himself as an easygoing captain. He believes everyone on the team understands they are accountable for their actions. While he’s there to offer help and motivation, each player takes responsibility for their progress. The team works on their skills, knowing what they did right and where they need to improve. Roman feels the best part is that the team doesn’t just grow together, but also encourages each other to get better.
This year was Roman’s last season on the basketball team, and this has been one of their best seasons ever. Our Nitros made it into the second round of the Division 3A CIF Playoffs.
They started their league season strong but lost two games in a row to Arcadia and Crescenta Valley. However, they managed to pull through and win five out of their last six games, including the season finale against Hoover. After that run, they gained momentum and motivation into the CIF Playoffs, where they won their first-round game against Shalhevet, 67 to 51.
Such an up-and-down experience has caused Roman and his teammates to grow closer and closer, and this hasn’t happened for a GHS boys basketball team in a long time. Roman says this is a season he will never forget.
Ultimately, Roman is a hard worker, an amazing athlete, and a key part of our Nitro community. If you see Roman around campus, make sure to say hello, as it’s his last year as a Nitro. He has helped our basketball team grow closer together and he has a bright future ahead of him.
If you would like to be part of next year’s boys basketball team, please contact coach Art Samontina at [email protected].