Standing tall: Etienne Brule player selected north’s athlete of the year

Rachid Ramoul may be small for a basketball forward, but you’ll never find him sweating the small stuff.

The outgoing Etienne Brule student and this year’s Town Crier North Region Athlete of the Year says an undying passion to do well, coupled with a positive attitude, were keys to his success this year.

"I like to think of myself as a leader, the guy that motivates the players and gives them hope," said the 5-foot-11, 150 pounder. "I always try to be calm and relaxed and never too emotional in the game because that can sometimes take you out of it."

Though he always thinks about what he could have done better in games that didn’t go his team’s way, he says he doesn’t dwell on it as much as he once did.

"There was two minutes left and we were down 10 in the TDCAA final one year," Ramoul recalls. "I remember taking a three-point shot when a player was under the net all alone and I didn’t see him.

"I really regretted it because that could’ve been a key moment where we could’ve changed the game. We had an open lay-up."

Ramoul said he remembered a spectator yelling at him for not making the pass, but while he admits the crowd can put him down, it usually doesn’t bother him.

"There was this one time when I was at the free-throw line and a guy said ‘Brick’ right when I was about to shoot," said Ramoul. "I made it and I just turned around and glared at him.

"It was something I didn’t expect, because I’m the kind of guy that doesn’t really like the comments and stuff like that. I like to keep things respectful between players. It annoyed me to a certain extent, but I’m glad I made the free-throw."

As a gifted three-point shooter, Ramoul, who also plays volleyball and soccer, says he had to overcome adversity in his elementary years when he was just being introduced to basketball.

"In grade 5, other kids would tell me, ‘Stop shooting from far. You’re not going to get it’. It motivated me when people told me I couldn’t shoot it from far. Now they encourage me."

Aside from athletics, Ramoul, who will be attending Ryerson University to study geographic analysis, enjoys encouraging people to think about other causes most would turn a blind-eye to.

Elected president of Etienne Brule’s Empowered Student Group, he says the environment needs more attention.

"We really need to take care of the environment because it’s where we’re living and eventually it’ll turn back on all of us and we’re going to end up paying for it," he says. "The subject is really growing amongst countries and I think it’ll push forward to a better environment in the near future."

Ramoul, whose nickname is Rasheed Wallace for the Detroit Pistons forward, says he likes the way the basketball pro carries himself even though his attitude might not always be the greatest.

"I don’t think having all the skills is all you need," he says. "I think you really need to know how to carry yourself on and off the court, because that’s how you create yourself as a player and as a person, and think that’s how you get people to look up to you."