WORTHINGTON — Marenono “Nono” Opiew was voted co-captain along with twin brother Abagotte Opiew for the Worthington Trojans boys basketball team this past winter season. Opiew was a key factor on a deep Trojans’ squad, and his work ethic and attitude helped guide WHS to one of its best season performances.
Opiew is a two-way player in basketball. He is near impossible to drive against towards the basket, and on the offensive end is a pure mixture of strength and speed. He has a good shot, and can spot a 3-point shot from any spot beyond the arc. He can throw down a dunk, and did so several times for WHS this past season.
However, the most electric part of Opiew’s game is his defense. He is able to lock down matchups from centerline to post. He has quick hips to keep up with fast opponents, strength to keep opponents off the drive, and high leaps to block stepback attempts.
The Worthington Trojans basketball team finished their season with a record of 21-7, and coach Clint Meyer credited Opiew along with the other five seniors for being instrumental in changing the outlook of WHS basketball through their discipline and work ethic.
Opiew said that what made the Trojans such a good team was the trust they had in one another. The Trojans were a defense-first team, and on offense they were committed to finding an open shot rather than forcing it to the best playmaker. The formula was very successful as teams struggled to score against WHS, and the Trojans came within a game of a state basketball appearance.
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In his freshman year at WHS he also played with older brother Terbuto Ochothow who is second all-time in points for WHS with 1,642.
Marenono Opiew tore his ACL playing football in his sophomore year at WHS, and he said it was tough to miss the basketball season which would be the final year to play with Terbuto and Abagotte. Abagotte Opiew missed the prior basketball season due to injury.
Opiew is a three-sport athlete. He excels at football, basketball and track. In track, Opiew is superb at both hurdles and jumps. Opiew placed third in the 300m hurdles at the Class 2A state track and field meet last year.
Opiew played wide receiver and defensive back for the Trojans football team.
When Opiew is not participating in athletic events, he is performing well in his academics. Opiew is a member of the WHS chapter of the National Honor Society.
Opiew is undecided on where he wants to go for college and what sport he will do when he gets there. However it goes without saying that wherever he does attend college will be getting a wonderful student-athlete that is easy to cheer for.
To see a video of Marenono Opiew on the court, go online to www.dglobe.com . Here’s a sample of our interview:
QUESTION: Who is the person who most inspires you in sports? Is it somebody you grew up watching?
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ANSWER: Someone that I grew up watching that really inspired me was my brother Terbo (Terbuto). We played together (my) freshman year, he was a junior at the time. It was a fun year but Abagotte my twin was hurt that year so coming back to sophomore year I didn’t get to play because I was hurt. That season really hurt because it would have been three brothers on the court together. I think that kind of boosted me because I didn’t get to play with him that one more year, but I had Abagotte and we could play two good years together.
QUESTION: Tell us the most unusual thing about you that most people don’t know.
ANSWER: A special hobby for me is playing (NBA) 2K. When me and my friends play, people say they are the best but they aren’t really the best, but in my opinion I think I am the best. And they know it but they just don’t wanna say it. Stats don’t lie, I shoot 67 percent from three. I think 67 through about 200 games is pretty good compared to somebody’s 30 percent. It is the way I play I run around and get open 3-pointers.
The Trust Project
