THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, MArCH 22, 2024 Page 9 Scoring wisdom: how Norma Waggett translates her basketball legacy into coaching success By Dom Nicastro N 1,000th orma Waggett knows success on the basketball court. She was a 1,000-point scorer at Saugus High School and in college, where she played at Saint Joseph’s in Maine and at Salem State University. That’s a lot of points. And it’s also a lot of wisdom. Waggett, who scored her collegiate point at Salem State in 2018, now spends her days imparting that wisdom on to Saugus High School girls basketball players. Serving as an assistant for Joe Lowe’s team this past winter, Waggett helped guide the Sachems to a Northeastern Conference championship and postseason victory. The Saugus Advocate caught up with Waggett for a Q&A: Advocate: Can you share a memorable moment from your time playing basketball at Saugus High School that you believe was pivotal in your development as a player? Waggett: I had so many memorable moments over the course of my three years at Saugus but when I look back, I think the most memorable would be that my family got to watch and share my success with me. My Grammy (my father’s mother, who has since passed) and my Nana (my mom’s mother) came to many games, and it was always the highlight of their week. It really taught me to live in the moment and not take things for granted whenever I talked to them after. Advocate: How did playing basketball in college differ from your high school experience, and what were some of the biggest challenges you faced during the transition? Waggett: College was a lot different than high school. In college everyone you’re on the court with was their high school team’s best player or one of the best. The level of play is a lot more intense; the season is longer; games are a lot more physical and faster. For me playing-wise I needed to get stronger, learn the game better outside of just my position and increase my IQ, increase my shooting range. I also did track and lacrosse in college, and I think that helped a lot with basketball. With lacrosse, reading and reacting translates a lot to basketball because the offense and defense have similarities. Advocate: Looking back at Norma Waggett (far left) in her assistant coaching role at Saugus High your college basketball career, what do you consider your greatest achievement, and how has it shaped you as a person? Waggett: I think being named captain at Salem after Norma Waggett at Salem State only being there a season was probably my greatest achievement. Most players are there three or four years before being named captain so it meant a lot to me that the work I put in was recognized and rewarded, and I was considered a leader after such a short time. Advocate: Throughout your basketball journey, who have been your biggest mentors or influences, and in what way have they impacted your approach to the game? Waggett: I could write forever about all the different people who went above and beyond helping me on my basketball journey. Bob Romeo (now the coach at North Reading) always let me come to his practices in high school if we had the day off or I couldn’t get the gym to get extra shots in; he’s still someone I speak to on a regular basis with questions and advice on coaching. Brian Harris was a huge mentor and still is. He is a big part of why I got recruited to play in college. He was always my favorite coach; he would reach out to schools and alWAGGETT | SEE PAGE 12 Saugus High athletes display tenacity and teamwork in winter sports season By Dom Nicastro T erri Pillsbury, Saugus High School’s athletics director, has a lot to be thankful for: student-athletes who have had individual and team success; a group of committed coaches who once donned the Saugus red and white and opportunities to play a sport, even if that means participating in a cooperative program with another school. Pillsbury, in an interview with the Saugus Advocate recapping the winter sports season and looking ahead to spring, painted a multifaceted picture of the school’s sports program, reflecting its strengths, challenges and the strategies for fostering a vibrant athletic culture. Embracing multidisciplinary athleticism A prominent theme in the interview is the celebration of student-athletes who excel across multiple sports. This versatility not only showcases the athletic talent within Saugus High but also highlights the supportive environment that encourages students to pursue diverse interests, Pillsbury noted. The transition of athletes from one sport to anConference titles, underscores the interconnected nature of the sports program and its role in developing well-rounded athletes. “A lot of them converted Terri Pillsbury SHS Athletics Director other, notably from soccer to basketball among girls, which featured two Northeastern over into our spring sports, too,” Pillsbury said of those girls’ soccer and basketball players. “They kind of spread themselves out a little bit in the springtime between girls lacrosse, softball and in track. We have a nice complement, especially among seniors, of leadership with our athletes. The girls have had some particular tournament success and get those accolades, of course, but our boys have a great group of senior leadership as well.” Resilience in the face of adversity Pillsbury’s insights into the boys’ basketball team’s season reveal a crucial aspect of sports at Saugus High: resilience. Despite facing challenges and not achieving as much success as hoped, the team’s determination and the “never quit” attitude, encouraged by coach and Saugus alum and 1,000-point scorer Joe Bertrand and staff, exempliPILLSBURY | SEE PAGE 12
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