Column: Senior transfer finds right fit at Waldron

Editor's note: Waldron High School senior Kiley Best is an intern with GIANT fm in Shelbyville. As part of her work schedule, she has agreed to write columns for the Shelby County Post detailing how her senior season as a Mohawk is going.

Transferring schools during your senior year is never an easy decision, especially when it involves sports.

Basketball had always been a huge part of my high school experience at South Decatur. However, after a lot of thought and reflection, I decided that transferring to Waldron High School was the best move, both academically and athletically.

Looking back, I can confidently say that it was a decision that has made a huge impact on my high school experiences. 

The first day of basketball practice at Waldron went surprisingly well. I wasn’t nervous at all — just excited to get started. As soon as I stepped onto the court, I felt a sense of belonging, like I was right where I was supposed to be.

The team was welcoming and the coaches were supportive, helping me feel comfortable despite being the new player. After practice that night, our head coach texted me saying how excited she was to have me on the team. After that I knew that this season was going to be the best I've experienced yet. 

In our scrimmage against Batesville, at the end of the first quarter I rolled my ankle, after rolling it the week before as well. This caused a bit of a setback where I had to sit almost two weeks and miss our first game.

Waldron senior Kiley Best

Playing my first game as a Mohawk was very nerve-racking, especially playing at home against Shelbyville. After the first game with my new team, I knew I was finally where I needed to be.

The energy, the support, and the sense of belonging was a contrast to what I had experienced before. It was like a weight had been lifted. It wasn't just about the game itself; it was about finding my place, and in that moment, I knew I had made the right choice.

After the first couple games I have realized that adjusting to a new team is definitely very challenging. It’s tough trying to find my rhythm with everyone, especially after being used to a different style of play for the past three seasons. There have been moments of frustration, but I know it’s all part of the process.

The coaches have been so nice and welcoming from the start, which made the transition a lot easier. They’re always encouraging and supportive, helping me adjust to the new team and pushing me to be my best.

The players have been just as welcoming, too. It’s been really reassuring to finally have such a positive, supportive environment around me.  

We have some big goals for this season like winning the sectional and conference. There are some tough teams out there that we’ll have to work hard to beat. It won’t be easy, but we’ve got a solid group of players and if we keep pushing ourselves and stay focused, we’ll make a strong run.

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