Senior Ariel Goodman’s steady leadership has been a driving force behind the varsity girls basketball team’s success this season, both on and off the court. In the team’s first Independent School League (ISL) matchup, against University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, Ariel finished with 11 points and eight assists, helping lead the Romans to a win and setting the tone for the season.
Despite being the shortest player on the team, the four-year varsity starter and co-captain has showed exceptional court vision that makes her stand out. Setting a goal to continue the team's strong sense of community, Ariel leverages her experiences as an underclassman to create an environment where every team member feels valued and seen.
Ariel first felt this sense of belonging as a freshman after finding out she would be starting in her first-ever varsity basketball game. She remembers feeling nervous and shaky until a senior on the team came up to her and offered to warm up together. “It really calmed me down and reminded me that I’m playing with people who care about me and I shouldn’t be too nervous,” she said.
Ariel’s experience in her freshman year motivated her to support underclassmen who are in the same position she once was.
Sophomore Neena Uppalapati said, “Last year, when I was on JV and [Ariel] was on varsity, whenever I would [practice] with varsity, they were running plays that I didn’t know. She [pulled me] aside to tell me what was happening and explain what was going on.”
As a mentor, Ariel took the initiative to go out of her way and connect with her teammates, creating a welcoming environment for all athletes.
“I really do try to get to know everyone on the team,” Ariel said. “I think if you know everyone, then everyone just feels more comfortable and is able to be more confident.”
Even before she became the captain of the varsity team, basketball was always a constant in Ariel’s life. Her earliest memories of the sport goes all the way back to fourth grade, when she tried out for a travel basketball team. “It was my first time [playing all] girls basketball, and I never really saw that before,” Ariel said. “I remember thinking it was really cool, and I had a lot of fun.”
Playing on the Lakeview Lakers from fourth through eighth grade and the Chicago Sky Basketball Academy freshman year, both of which are travel teams, Ariel learned to model leadership on the court by regulating her attitude during frustrating moments.
As Ariel has grown from a fourth grader who was playing competitive basketball for the first time to a senior who thrives during high-pressure situations, she has leaned on her family.
Ariel’s brother has always been a support Ariel could rely on while playing. “My brother tries to come to [games] even when they’re really far,” she said. “He taught me how to play basketball when I was younger, so I owe a lot to him.”
Additionally, Ariel’s parents always encouraged her to keep playing as they recognized her love for the sport and her resilience.
“[Ariel] certainly doesn't give up, whether she’s beaten up physically, down on herself, or upset with her own playing,” Ariel's mother, Laurie Goodman, said. “She understands how to teach herself life and self-lessons for the next game.”
On her travel teams, “she went to every practice, but when it came to competitive tournament games, she didn’t always get a lot of playing time until she proved herself,” Mrs. Goodman said.
In her first two seasons at Latin, Ariel was dedicated to proving herself by improving her skills.
“Freshman and sophomore years, I had a hard time on defense being able to keep up with bigger and better players compared to middle school,” Ariel said. “It was really challenging for me to not feel like I was doing as well as I knew I could have."
Encouragement from her parents amid rough patches in her basketball journey showed Ariel how much a few small words can change someone’s mindset. This realization, in turn, allowed her to recognize that she needed to motivate her teammates during hard games.
At this season’s game against DePaul College Prep, the competition was tough, and consequently, some teammates started lacking confidence in the second half. “It was a close game, and Ariel said, ‘Guys, we got this, we’re in our head. This is a team that we can beat. We’re here, and we can do this,’ and it changed [everyone’s] mindset,” Neena said.
Ariel credits part of her success to Head Coach Max Rouse, a Middle School history teacher at Latin who has been the girls varsity basketball coach for over 20 years. Ariel credits Couch Rouse with not only her athletic development but also her personal growth.
“[Coach Rouse] spends all his time thinking about how to make the team better, and he cares so much about all of us,” Ariel said. “He’s taught me and shown me how to care about other people."
Ariel’s appreciation for her coach is reciprocated. Coach Rouse says her leadership will leave a lasting impact on the program.
“Ari's steady presence has set an example of how to handle pressure and have fun, which will be passed on to the younger players,” Coach Rouse said.
Ariel cherishes her experiences on the girls basketball team.
“Latin girls basketball has a legacy of winning our conference and being a really dominant team,” Ariel said. “I am really proud that I get to be a part of it and keep the legacy going.”
