German foreign exchange student excels on basketball court

By Matt Pascarella

Windham foreign exchange junior Eduard Pertuch played soccer growing up in Germany. Now as part of the Foreign Exchange program at Windham High School for the 2024-2025 school year, he played on the WHS junior varsity basketball team this winter and also played American football for the first time during the fall season.

Windham foreign exchange student Eduard Pertuch, a junior,
navigates his way through Deering players during a JV
basketball game at Windham High School on Friday, Feb. 7.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA 

“Going all the way back to tryouts, Edi's leadership, character, and positivity were captivating,” said Windham boys JV basketball coach Noah Estey. “He has only been playing for two to three years, but he consistently came to me wanting more coaching and feedback because he was extremely motivated. He consistently asked what he could continue to work on to become the best player he could, both for this year and for when he returns to Germany. His work ethic was second to none and was one of our most important players this year due to his leadership, work ethic and contagious positivity.”

Windham is a much bigger school than Pertuch is used to, but he’s enjoyed his time on the court and in the classroom. He likes that there are more and more people to meet and different things to experience.

While he struggled a little at first, he quickly adapted.

“I really like the community,” said Pertuch. “They picked me up from day one, everybody was really, really friendly.”

In Germany, basketball is very popular. Pertuch is a big fan, and it was one of the main reasons he wanted to come to the United States was to experience how Americans played the game.

“It’s an amazing program,” said Pertuch of Windham’s basketball program. “I really love that from the first steps they took to putting a team together that you can trust on the court and off the court. I love competing, I love competition ... seeing your friends out there ... just makes me happy and makes the team happy. It was a great experience.”

Coach Estey said Pertuch was a pleasure to work with and coach. They had many good conversations about the difference between how the game is played in Germany versus how it’s played in the United States.

It’s not an easy adjustment to make coming into a program with student-athletes who have been in the program playing together for years.

According to Windham sophomore and Pertuch’s basketball teammate Sam Redlon, he is one of the kindest, generous, and friendliest people he’s ever met; an outstanding teammate who makes others around him better with his positivity and never gives up on the team.

Redlon said it was fun to play basketball with him. Pertuch was a mentor, a team guy and it was good to have his knowledge at Windham.

“I had him as a teammate for both football and basketball and no one cared more and cheered harder for his teammates than Edi did this year,” said Windham freshman Boston Krainis. “It was impressive to watch how quickly Edi picked up American football after never having been exposed to it. In basketball he was a willing shooter, diving on the floor and celebrating with his teammates. One time the referee misunderstood his enthusiasm and gave him a technical foul. The entire team declared him the happiest person to ever get a technical. The season was much better with him on the team.”

Pertuch says he wants to thank his coaches for their kindness, time and the effort they put in and gives a special thanks to Coach Estey for his patience and to the team for all they’ve done for him. He’s grateful for everything and this was a season he won’t forget.” <