Team chemistry helps Bangor excel in classroom and court Academics first priority for Rams

When your teams have earned back-to-back regional titles and stuck two more gold balls in an already crowded trophy case, it’s obvious how successful you’ve been on the basketball court.

What hasn’t been so obvious when it comes to Bangor High School’s boys program is how successful its members have been in the classroom as well.

Senior starters Josh Johnson and Jim Shea have already gained admittance to two prestigious colleges – Johnson to Princeton University and Shea to Bowdoin College – and academic concerns are almost a non-issue for Rams head coach Roger Reed.

“There are a number of kids on this team who are very good students who are very serious about their studies. I think all our teams have been strong in the classroom for the most part,” Reed said. “I never get too concerned about them letting us down as far as their grades. They know they have to take care of the classroom first and athletics second.”

So what is the key ingredient that helps these student-athletes excel in class and in games? It may be as simple as team chemistry.

“No question. We would give anything to help any of our teammates,” said starting senior forward Joe Vanidestine. “We all kind of take pride in the other guys’ successes, and doing well in school is a priority for us. When we do well, we feel good about ourselves.”

Senior classmate, friend, and fellow starter Joe Campbell couldn’t agree more.

“We hang out even when we don’t have to … all of us,” he said. “It works out real well.”

“This has been a very special group of kids. Really nice families, good kids, easy to work with, very close-knit teammates,” said Reed. “They play a variety of sports together and they’re always in each others’ corners. They’re very positive to be around.”

It’s hard not to have a positive outlook when two of your senior leaders are ranked second and 19th in a class of 325-plus students.

Johnson, ranked No. 2 in his class, is also a three-sport athlete (football, basketball, baseball), student council president, and math team member – one of six on the team. He hopes to make Princeton’s baseball team as a walk-on, but education is his first priority.

“I heard back from Princeton on November 15. I’ve wanted to go there probably since the middle of my sophomore year because of their academic programs,” said the soft-spoken senior forward.

Johnson certainly has the Ivy League academic credentials as he has compiled a 4.46 grade point average while taking four advanced placement (college) courses. Johnson is also one of 10 members of the Academic All-State basketball team.

“Coach Reed gave me the application for that,” Johnson said. “I think the coaches here pride themselves on the athletes all being good students and being good members of society.”

Shea, whose family moved to Bangor from Massachusetts during his eighth-grade year, plans to study economics and Spanish and play baseball at Bowdoin. The 18-year-old is already taking his fifth year of Spanish.

“I’m really proud of what I’ve done sports-wise, especially this year with us winning a second gold ball and me playing more of an important role this year than last, but I think academics is more of a strong point because it will carry me a lot further,” Shea said.

Education appears to be carrying many members of this team further as E.J. Hughes, Matt Anderson, Shawn Bouchard, and Eric Bell, all senior reserves, are heading to Holy Cross, the University of Connecticut and the University of Maine, respectively. Hughes will run cross country for the Crusaders and Bouchard plans to play baseball for the Black Bears.

It appears the same pursuit of academic achievement applies to the younger Rams, also. Starting point guard Zak Ray, a junior, is another strong performer in the classroom.

Meanwhile, the senior Joes on the team are still weighing their options. Vanidestine is 70th in his class, but is leaning toward prep school to enhance his athletic scholarship opportunities. He’d like to study either business or education. Campbell, the team’s lone 17-year-old senior, is also thinking about prep school to increase his exposure and ease his transition from high school to a much more independent college atmosphere.

“It’s kind of sad the season’s over,” said Campbell. “I think this year and last are the closest teams I’ve ever been on in any sport.”