Marlin basketball is a living, growing, rich tradition of success. In the 30 years that Marlin basketball has been part of the landscape, we have seen some amazing accomplishments, witnessed great plays and players. Each year, we look forward to the many plays that we will see and experience. The tradition is alive and well: A tradition we can embrace and call our own. This tradition is as powerful as any in South Texas, with the boys making the playoffs a whopping 88 percent of the time, and the girls making it an astounding 95 percent of the time. This tradition is truly amazing.

Anticipation is a word that can invoke many ideas and memories: Something that starts the mind whirling into the future and with calculations from the past.

Every year at this time, nearly 100 student athletes at PAISD feel this anticipation for a season that is about to arrive. The thump of a ball, the tweet of a whis- tle, and the cheer from a crowd: All these things bring a rush to the athletes who will be pursuing their dreams and thoughts of the perfect season.

Our athletes will spend numerous hours away from home enjoying the challenges that the season will have in store. They look forward to hearing and reading about their triumphs and discussing the events of each game they play. They will spend time working on their skills as well as finishing up their homework that is due the next day. Then they will do it again, building upon the foundations at which they have worked so hard in the past.

We cannot wait to get the basketballs bouncing and juice of competition flowing.

With the Marlin Classic kicking off the season, our athletes are brimming with excitement. Their goals are high and the spirit is contagious.

The twists and turns of a season are still to come. The young ladies and young men are each working hard to realize the goals and expectations of the 30 years of successful competition here in Port Aransas.

Your support of the athletes can be an immeasurable help to them realizing their goals and thoughts about the season. The Marlins and Lady Marlins want to hear your cheers and feel the energy that only fans can bring into the gym. Not only will you inspire, but you will build a sense of pride and responsibility in our teams as they anticipate the atmosphere that they will enter.

Come out to the Fish Tank and help our student athletes reach the goals that they have set for themselves. Let’s fuel the fire that has pushed our programs to the successes we have realized in the past and that we anticipate in the future. We love to see new faces and welcome the old ones. We can promise a couple of things: Good basketball and good fun.

To the fans, to the parents, to the community:

Thanks for the support that you give us in all we do here at PAHS. With the continued support of so many people, our programs will be as successful as ever and looking to continue.

Paul Patteson is head boys’ basketball coach and teaches social studies at Port Aransas High School.