January Male Athlete of the Month

Male Athlete of the Month: Eric Bacote

As a three-sport athlete, Eric Bacote has taken full advantage of the medley of athletic options available at Marian High School. The Mustang basketball team is currently 7-6, in the hunt for a tournament bid. His dedication to the game of basketball, his classes, and his contribution to the culture of Marian secured his spot as the January Male Athlete of the Month.

Eric first began playing basketball at age three, and started his varsity career at Marian as a freshman. During the summer, he polishes his skills playing for the AAU team, the Boston Warriors. Though currently a junior, Eric intends on continuing to play basketball through college. His lengthy career has allowed him to concoct an effective pregame ritual, which includes listening to Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” and “Ready or Not” by The Fugees, while wearing long, “lucky” socks.  His favorite professional basketball team is the Golden State Warriors, primarily due to their stellar line-up, including Eric’s favorite player- Andre Iguodala. Since joining the Mustang squad, Eric’s most memorable game was as a sophomore versus Lowell Catholic. He scored 16 points, had 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 steals, making it the “best game [he’s] ever had”. In addition to excelling on the basketball court, Eric is a standout forward for the Marian Boys Soccer Team, tallying nine goals during the 2013 season. In the Spring, he is an active member of the Track Team, competing in the 100 meter dash, 200 meter dash, and the long jump.

Eric is also an integral piece of the smooth production of plays and drama pieces. As a Marian Mainstager, he is responsible for set construction and design for the three shows Marian performs during each school year. Additionally, Eric is a member of Marian’s multicultural club, and is exceptionally proud of his Costa Rican heritage. A fluent Spanish-speaker, Eric would love to return to Costa Rica as his family still lives in various parts of the country.

Coming from Cameron Middle School, Eric knew the smaller atmosphere at Marian would involve an adjustment process.  He finds the environment ideal for his growth as a whole person, noting that the school is “better for education and sports” than other secondary school options. His favorite teacher is Mr. Donohue because of the life lessons taught to supplement the subject matter of the class. His appreciation of US History with Mr. Johnson contributed to his assessment of Barack Obama as his favorite president.

Described as “athletic, funny, and unforgettable” Eric has had a substantial impact on the Marian community—athletic and otherwise. Though he reiterated his shock at his selection as January’s Athlete of the Month, Eric's achievements in all facets of his scholastic experience certainly embody the ideals of Marian High School.

Come watch Eric and the Boys Basketball Team this Tuesday, February 4, 2014 at 7:30pm in the Marian Gym!

Learn more about Marian Athletics by following all sports on Twitter!