Varsity lines up before their game against Hinkley. photo by Sarah Mohamed
An inside look at TJ’s 2025-2026 basketball season and how the year unfolded.
Thomas Jefferson’s boys’ basketball team finished the season with a 13-11 overall record, and a 6-2 record in league play, taking second place in the conference. While the Spartans put together a strong season, senior Mosely Rowekamp, said the season had its share of “ups and downs,” and that the team “faced a lot of challenges” throughout the year. Although the Spartans put together a strong record, the season was not without setbacks and the team had to work through adversity for most of the season.
Some of the biggest challenges the team faced were injuries and illnesses, both of which affected the lineup during different parts of the season. Rowekamp explained that the team dealt with several players out during key moments, forcing others to step into bigger roles and adjust quickly. Junior Shepard Schneider said, “A lot of those injuries became mental, not having those guys on the court with you changes the dynamic.” It was not just the loss of players skills that hurt the Spartans, but also the effect their absence had on the team’s chemistry, confidence, and overall performance throughout the season.
Despite those challenges, the team still had several highlights during the season. Some of the most memorable moments came during TJ’s two wins over Denver North, including a senior night win in front of a packed student section. Schneider said, “Beating North on senior night, we had a lot of people pop out in the student section, and being able to get our seniors that win was really nice.” With the energy from the crowd and the meaning behind the game, the win stood out as one of the team’s biggest moments of the season.
Along with key wins, Rowekamp, Schenider, and junior Noah Abraham pointed to the team’s chemistry as a key part of their season. They claimed that the team’s bond helped them stay together through both the highs and lows. “Everybody was a family, no one was selfish and we all contributed to one another,” Abraham explained. Rowekamp added that the team’s connection was carried off the court as well, saying, “We’re also really connected off the court.” The team’s connection helped create trust between the players and played a major role in the way the team competed throughout the year.
Throughout the season, the team also developed their own way of bringing energy to practices and games. Schenider, and senior Nick Radi came up with the saying “Bird” which stands for “Boy I’d rather die,” a phrase the team used to build energy and to remind each other that they were all in it together. It became part of the team’s identity and added to the chemistry that helped define the group throughout the year.
TJ’s season also extended into the playoffs, giving the Spartans one more opportunity to compete at home. Entering the postseason as the 29th seed, TJ hosted 36th seed Coronado in the opening round. The Spartans fell 73-58 in what was the final home game which officially brought the 25-26 season to a close.
Although the season ended in the first round of the playoffs, TJ still finished with a winning record, a 6-2 league record, and made a postseason appearance. The Spartans dealt with challenges throughout the year, but many players were ready to combat those hardships. The team’s connection also played a major role, as players consistently pointed to their chemistry and closeness as one of their biggest strengths. Overall, the 25-26 season was a solid year for the Spartans and one that showed how connected the team was.
