The Hooplandia Street Team’s event calendar keeps growing, so they have recruited some additional helping hands! Meet their newest member, Isaiah Gomez!

Gomez is a junior at Westfield High School, and he is affectionately nicknamed “I.G.” by friends. His 12 years playing baseball have granted him the skills and experience necessary to play on Westfield’s varsity team. During the 2024 season, his team earned the opportunity to play in Boston by securing a place in Division II Final Four. Outside of the traditional season, he gives his spare time by serving as an umpire for the town of Westfield’s little league softball and baseball games.

Gomez’s other love is basketball. He plays a vital role as team manager for the Westfield High School varsity basketball team (Go Bombers!). His responsibilities include preparing drills and setting the clock for practice, as well as recording away games to be dissected by the team the following day. He appreciates Head Coach Nathan Martins and the assistant coaches that ensure all members of the basketball team have fun and feel unified.

When asked about what Gomez enjoys most about this role, he said, “I love being the manager because basketball is the first sport that I fell in love with and it has been something for my brother and me to bond over.”

Gomez’s debut event with the Hooplandia Street Team was the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) Basketball Tournament with Jack Madsen, a fellow street team member and Westfield High School junior, on Saturday, February 22. The tournament, which took place locally at Westfield High School, culminated in an intense face-off between the Pope Francis Preparatory School Cardinals and the Springfield Central High School Golden Eagles. Under the guidance of Coach Justin Dalessio, Pope Francis Prep achieved a “threepeat” with a 55-48 win and took home the Division II Western Mass. Class A crown. Now, the Cardinals hope to make a deep run in the state tournament.