I classify players as good, great and warriors. James was a warrior. And he took care of so many team problems that coaches have with players.

When he was little, I made sure my son, Aaron, met James and listened to our conversations. I wanted Aaron to be around James. Personally, I wouldn't be who I am today without James. He elevated himself and everyone around him. Even as coaches, he elevated us. He tried to walk a straight line in a crooked world.

James Lewis and those other kids in '78, '79 and '80 laid the groundwork for our state championship teams. But especially James. The kids that followed learned from him. We all did. He always came to practice prepared, practiced like it was game night and was better in the fourth quarter than he was in the first. He left an impression.

James Lewis was the first athlete I ever coached who really touched my heart. He was a special, special person.

They played like warriors. They played like champions. That's why this team is so dangerous when you see the players and the rotation. ... That's what you have to have to be a championship team.

Stacey is a player that I classify as a warrior. She has a severely sprained ankle that she got against Middlebury. A few minutes after, she told me she was OK.