The Adkins & Freize Diet Sure to Bring Success
Deidra Bowling-Meade
The Ashland Beacon
Diet trends change through the years with only a few plans being successful. Success only comes to those with dedication, hard work, resilience and determination to come out on top. The most successful diet right now involves Ashland seniors Asher Adkins and Nate Freize who helped lead the Ashland Tomcats to their sixth consecutive 16th Region title. This diet doesn’t consist of rapid weight loss from lowering carb intake or freezing your body with an icy bath plunge. Teams experienced a rapid loss with Adkins’ quick feet on defense and light touch under the rim. An icy chill left players at a standstill as Freize stood his ground under the rim and drained three’s from the outside. Both look for opportunities to pass and rebound to their teammates. Adkins and Freize constantly encourage their team whether it’s at practice, games or off the court.
Adkins and Freize aren’t considered NBA legends; however, you won’t find more heart, unselfish play, and resilience in these two young men. Both Adkins and Freize have been part of five of Ashland’s 16th Regional championships and hold a perfect record of 13-0 in region play, which means their approach to the game has an impact. Their diet plan works.
Freize remarked, “It’s an honor to be a part of five regional championships. Most people might only get a shot at four and to get a shot at five, I’m truly blessed. This one meant more to me personally because it is my senior year. We lost to Boyd County three times and a lot of people counted us out and didn’t think we were going to win it. To come out and dominate the game like we did meant a lot to me.”
Adkins proclaimed, “God has blessed this team and this program with great success. We knew what we were capable of achieving, what it takes to win those games and really lock in and get the job done.”
Ashland’s head basketball coach Ryan Bonner stated, “Asher and Nate are what we define as heroes. A hero to us, is a guy that makes the play that leads to the big play. It might be a play that not everyone recognizes at the time, but without their unselfishness and willingness to sacrifice we may not be able to make the big play. Those two have been heroes for us all season. During the regional tournament, Asher Adkins averaged 10.6 points per game and 3.3 rebounds while playing smothering half court defense. Nate Frieze averaged 10.3 points per game and 8.6 rebounds per game and also helped us win 50/50 balls all tournament.”
Adkins finds the formula for the team’s success to be “toughness, togetherness and unselfishness.” Freize agreed and stated that Coach Bonner instilled those. “Any part of our game plan always comes in threes. He gave us the language on how we carry ourselves. This year was spring, spread, share.”
Freize continued, “I also think that our practices and the way we prepared for games led to our success. All the coaches who do all the behind the scenes work to get us prepared, they don’t always get the recognition they deserve.”
Adkins shook his head in agreement and added, “If you’re not ready to have a championship practice, then you’re not ready to have a championship.”
Coach Bonner praised Adkins and Freize, “These two have spent countless hours in the gym before school in the mornings and late at night after practice. Their feet hit the floor when they wake up and they say to themselves ‘I'm going to work today.’ That work ethic trickles down to the rest of our team and as a result we all are willing to put in the unrequired hours. I think that's the difference between winning and losing a championship.”
Both Adkins and Freize have grown in their game the last five years. Freize said that playing football helped him to become more physical and learn how to use his body more on the court. Above all, Freize knows his role. Freize commented, “I bought into my role that I’m going to be that guy that doesn’t care about the points. If I do score a lot of points in the game, so be it but if not I can live with it. As long as we win and whatever I can do to help us win, that’s all that matters at the end of the day.”
Adkins said that in the past, he would often second guess himself. Now he is more prepared when the ball is in his hands. Adkins remarked, “I feel like I’ve done better reading the ball off the rim. I started playing gritty and diving on the ground for loose balls and taking charges.” Adkins gave credit to others for his growth adding, “I was able to be prepared from all the years of experience growing under those great players of the past and the coaches. I’ve just stacked that knowledge as time went on, and it’s really just helped me to get where I’m at and helped me become a better player. It’s just another blessing God has given me. He put me on this team and in this situation. I just give Him all the glory.”
Not only have Adkins and Freize grown in their game but have impacted others through their leadership. Chad Tackett, who is Ashland’s head football coach and school counselor, had the privilege of working with both Adkins and Freize on the football field as well as counseling them at school. Tackett spoke about the impact Adkins and Freize make whether it’s playing sports or in their daily lives. “Having guys like Nate and Asher in your locker room, they instantly make your team better. Not only in the way they play but the leadership and character they bring to your locker room. When the both of them came out for football, they immediately made us better and had a big impact on our success. They lead by example on and off the field. They are outstanding students and outstanding young men. Seeing them have success in so many areas of their life is no surprise. They are champions in every sense of the word.”
Coach Bonner commented, “They love everybody that they're around, and they're always smiling. They just don't really have too many bad days, and they love life. People want to be around that type of person. Attitude is important, and they just simply have great attitudes and perspective on life.”
Tomcat basketball won’t be the same without Adkins and Freize, who have helped build the foundation of the team the last five years.This duo compliment each other well and have an unbreakable bond.
Adkins shared, “I can thank COVID a lot for our friendship. We had the same goal in mind to get better, so we started practicing basketball together. I’d go over to his house a lot and still go over to his house a lot. We’ve been able to share basketball and football together. We have the same sense of humor, so it’s easy to have a good time together. It never stops!”
Freize agreed, “We both have the same personalities–loud and out there! We love to sing songs and just hang out. One time we just sat in my truck for 30 minutes bumping music in the driveway. My mom thought we were insane, but that’s the kind of stuff that we do. We don’t get embarrassed around each other; we’re just ourselves.I think that’s what makes our bond so strong.”
Freize continued, “Asher’s always been the guy I like playing with more than anybody.
We knew where each other was going to be on the court at all times. It helped each other’s game and flow.”
Adkins praised Freize for being “a high IQ player who is thorough in his game. I’m happy he’s on my team to say the least.”
Ashland Athletic Director Jim Conway shared, “I am just so proud of them and our team for sustaining their championship pedigree for so long. Nate and Asher are special in
the sense that they just fill their roles, never complain, provide consistency, and always put Ashland first. They are also great kids, when you talk to them, you walk away understanding this. As the Athletic Director, I am just proud of them and happy that they are part of a select few players, who have never lost a regional tournament game in their high school careers.”
Coach Bonner commented, “I am beyond proud to have the opportunity to be around them every single day and consider them part of my own family. What excites me most about these two is what they'll be doing 10-12 years from now.”
Adkins will be playing football for Centre College this fall and studying business. Freize will be attending Marshall University and also studying business. Maybe the two will join forces and start a business partnership. They have a once in a lifetime friendship that will stand the test of time. Adkins said it best, “We’ve really shown our true friendship whenever things don’t go our way or life throws us a curveball, we will still stand. Are we going to be there for each other? My answer is yes! We both know that.”
The Adkins and Freize Diet Plan will be put into action Wednesday, March 20 at 1:30 p.m. as Ashland Blazer (23-10) takes on Lyon County (32-3) for the first round of the KHSAA Boys’ Sweet 16 Tournament.
