Chester’s Breilynd White and his Clippers teammate have some work to do to get into the place they feel most comfortable – the postseason. (Pete Bannan – MediaNews Group)
By Matthew DeGeorge
Tyler Beaulieu’s sophomore basketball season ended after two practices. A dive for a loose ball, an awkward landing with a teammate on top of him, and a fractured clavicle meant Beaulieu was a spectator for Episcopal Academy’s season.
As “brutal” as the actual injury was, in his recollection, Beaulieu managed to get something from observing the season.
“It was interesting because you get a perspective of a lot of the guys that either don’t play or see things that you can’t see when you’re on the court,” he said. “It was kind of cool talking to them, and it was good to build relationships with kids. It gives you a new perspective of the atmosphere and the other parts of the game, being on the bench as opposed to playing.”
A year later, Beaulieu is healthy, committed to Cornell to play baseball and the Churchmen’s third-leading scorer on the basketball floor. He’s also, thanks in part to his time on the bench, wiser and more connected to his team.