Junior Riley Hannon said he always looked forward to the varsity basketball and baseball games where he would manage the team from the bench.

Now, as he looks toward his final year of high school, he hopes to be an honorary player of the basketball team.

“I like all sports, but basketball is my favorite,” Hannon said. “Being manager has been the best part of high school until now.”

Hannon normally sits at the end of the bench with the team during home varsity games, an experience he said has only made him love the game more.

“I like to talk to the team when I am sitting with them,” Hannon said. “I love watching Ray and Joey Whitlock play.”

As a junior, Hannon said he hopes to pursue a college education following high school, somewhere with a basketball team he can watch.

“I want to go to college after school, preferably the University of Wisconsin, Madison,” Hannon said. “I really like all their sports teams, and I like the school.”

Hannon said he has always looked up to Christine Tvrdik, one of his teachers, because she always supports him in the activities he pursues.

“She always comes to see me at every basketball game and helps me in school to achieve my dreams,” Hannon said.

Tvrdik said Hannon is a very flexible student who loves to learn and help other students learn.

“He is a role model,” Tvrdik said. “If there is a routine exercise to be done, he always helps lead the class in what we are doing.”

According to Tvrdik, Hannon’s participation with the basketball and baseball team has allowed him to be a part of the school.

“He takes a lot of pride in what he does, and he really leaves a good impression on the players,” Tvrdik said.

Hannon said one day he hopes he can step on the court with the team, but sees the success of the team as more important.

“My dream is for the team to win every game at home,” Hannon said. “But it would be awesome to be able to help the team.”

With less than four months left in his junior year, Hannon said he looks forward to his last year and his last high school basketball season.

“I want to have a fun time my senior year with my friends and watch more basketball,” Hannon said.