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Junior Germell Heard and freshman Tim Rotruck, both members of the Lakeland College men's basketball team, are no strangers to winning basketball. The two come from a tradition of winning, having been a part of Wisconsin Lutheran High School's six-year conference championship run from 2004-10. It's a tradition they both help to build at Lakeland.
Although Heard and Rotruck never won a conference championship together, they have a special bond that stems from playing summer basketball together.
"We got really close after playing summer basketball," said Heard. "Tim and I are always hanging out and playing basketball together. We make each other better by pushing one another past our limits."
The bond the two Milwaukee natives share is evident on the basketball court when they battle and bruise each other in practice. As teammates, they are competing for playing time, but as friends, they work to make each other better.
In high school, both earned Honorable Mention All-Little 10 accolades, and Rotruck claims to have won the "Best Hair of Division II" in 2009, the same year he led his high school team to a Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletics Association Division II State Championship.
Around campus, if you see one, you'll likely see the other. Over the holiday break, Rotruck spent more time at Heard's apartment than his own dorm. The two have a special handshake and countless inside jokes. In high school, they made their own music videos during trips to road games. They understand one another's strengths and weaknesses and push each other to get better every day.
"Mell (Germell) and I are the closest people around campus," said Rotruck. "We treat each other like brothers and enjoy doing the same things, so it's easy for us to get along."
Their competition isn't limited to the basketball court. They compete when they play NBA2K11, a basketball video game that Heard has the upper hand in, although Rotruck believes he's still the better player.
"Being competitive in other things with each other helps us stay competitive on the basketball court," said Heard.
Want to see Germell and Tim's handshake? Click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jG4-89ZMr6k
Friendly competitors: Heard, Rotruck have brotherly bond
Athletics - posted on 1/18/2011
Junior Germell Heard and freshman Tim Rotruck, both members of the Lakeland College men's basketball team, are no strangers to winning basketball. The two come from a tradition of winning, having been a part of Wisconsin Lutheran High School's six-year conference championship run from 2004-10. It's a tradition they both help to build at Lakeland.
Although Heard and Rotruck never won a conference championship together, they have a special bond that stems from playing summer basketball together.
"We got really close after playing summer basketball," said Heard. "Tim and I are always hanging out and playing basketball together. We make each other better by pushing one another past our limits."
The bond the two Milwaukee natives share is evident on the basketball court when they battle and bruise each other in practice. As teammates, they are competing for playing time, but as friends, they work to make each other better.
In high school, both earned Honorable Mention All-Little 10 accolades, and Rotruck claims to have won the "Best Hair of Division II" in 2009, the same year he led his high school team to a Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletics Association Division II State Championship.
Around campus, if you see one, you'll likely see the other. Over the holiday break, Rotruck spent more time at Heard's apartment than his own dorm. The two have a special handshake and countless inside jokes. In high school, they made their own music videos during trips to road games. They understand one another's strengths and weaknesses and push each other to get better every day.
"Mell (Germell) and I are the closest people around campus," said Rotruck. "We treat each other like brothers and enjoy doing the same things, so it's easy for us to get along."
Their competition isn't limited to the basketball court. They compete when they play NBA2K11, a basketball video game that Heard has the upper hand in, although Rotruck believes he's still the better player.
"Being competitive in other things with each other helps us stay competitive on the basketball court," said Heard.
Want to see Germell and Tim's handshake? Click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jG4-89ZMr6k
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