Road trip: Mundelein basketball diaries

Editor's note: Mundelein's boys and girls basketball teams are spending this week in Arizona, taking advantage of the IHSA's relatively new rule that allows teams to travel anywhere for games. The Mustangs will play two Arizona schools, Boulder Creek and Desert Mountain, that are located in the greater Phoenix area. The teams are planning some off-the-court activities as well, such as attending the Insight Bowl college football game, touring the Grand Canyon and possibly watching a college basketball game at the University of Arizona. Navjot Singh, a senior forward on the boys team, and Samantha Panitch, a senior point guard on the girls team, will be writing diaries throughout the trip. Here is their first installment.

From Navjot Singh:

Hey there everybody. Today was an interesting day. Before leaving on our trip, coach Knar decided to give Chris Franz, Jeff Camplin, Andy Rochon, and myself a haircut. He did such a splendid job that he might quit after this season to pursue a career in hair cuttery.

After we were abruptly awakened, we met up at the high school at 4 in the morning. The team was so tired from the night before it was silent on the bus.

The check-in went flawlessly and so did the plane ride. Mike Gerton was nervous because it was his first time ever flying. After getting our rental vans, we checked into the hotel and hit up the mall, where we ate and browsed around.

while laying in the sun awaiting hotel check-in, I realized that I had lost my wallet!!!! GONE!!! It was dropped like a no-look pass from Andy Rochon to Kenny Branch.

The weather was b-e-a-utiful. We can ask for nothing more as it was about 65 degrees and sunny. And later tonight we plan to watch a movie as a team and go swimming at the hotel pool, which would be a perfect way to top off our day.

We are lucky enough to be joined by the girls team, which should make the trip even more fun.

I couldn't ask for a better way to spend my senior year winter break than with my team hanging out in Arizona. I'm sure this trip will give us memories and moments that we will cherish forever.

A great thanks to everyone who made this trip possible by commiting their time and money. Also, a thanks to MHS for making this trip possible. Your efforts and kindness have not gone unnoticed.

From Samantha Panitch:

The first day of our trip to Arizona has been a whirlwind.

We were literally up before the sun rose as we had to meet at Mundelein High School by 4 in the morning to catch our flight. On the bus ride over to the airport, Coach Evans lectured to us about the rules for our trip, most of which we had heard countless times from previous trips we have taken as a team. Also on the bus ride we were lucky enough to be able to listen to the wonderful singing of Kelso (Kelsey O'Connor) and JJ (Sawchuk).

Even though it was early, you could tell everyone was excited when we arrived at the airport, especially Kelsey Weyers, because it was her first time flying.

We went through all of the normal things you do at the airport: checked in our luggage, went through security, and then went to our terminal to wait. At security, Ally Hanas was caught trying to be sneaky by bringing in a water bottle, so she had to be searched, which was amusing to everyone.

Our plane was on schedule so we took off for Arizona at 7:30 a.m. It felt like an extremely long flight even though it was only three hours long. Most of the plane trip was spent sleeping and listening to iPods, but some girls spent the flight taking pictures of the beautiful scenery.

When we finally arrived in Arizona, we drove the biggest van I have ever seen (it fits 15 people!) to our hotel. The first thing everyone commented on when we stepped off the plane was the palm trees.

We were all starving and wanted to do nothing but eat so we went to California Pizza Kitchen for lunch. Later tonight, we're going to the mall and a movie.

We are all looking forward to the rest of the week. It is sunny and 64 degrees here and the sunshine just makes you smile and puts you in a good mood. This should be the perfect way to end our winter break.

Samantha Panitch, Mundelein Lady Mustangs senior point guard