As high school seniors gear up for the end of their high school sports seasons they are determined to make their final season as a Lancer unforgettable by playing their last season with everything they got. And as graduation nears, senior athletes face a unique experience by “retiring” from the sports they have passionately pursued throughout their entire high school career.
This can be a very bittersweet experience for the team and coaches as they have to face this problem every year. Many players and coaches have passionate feelings after letting go of the team in which they have watched the players play all these years and become leaders of the team.
Senior Jacob Mesias finished his senior season of football.
“There is a lot of uncertainty about what I am going to do after high school and if it includes sports, either football or track but I love them both. They are incredibly huge parts of my life and not having one I’m not sure what it would be like. I feel a piece of me might be missing but the sport has also been a huge strain on my body and mind so I can see positives and negatives. It would mean to the world to continue after high school but if I didn’t I would find a way to cope with my decision.”
Mesias brings up very important points while it is the sport he loves to play, it is a lot to ask and health physically and mentally plays a huge part in whether they continue or not. But either way what happens is a hard decision to make while playing their sport they always have something to look forward to and now that piece will be missing.
Even though it is sad to have teammates and friends missing next year, they set huge examples for the future of sports and will continue to be role models for their community. Jacob explained, “After my time at liberty I can tell the younger players a few things. One is to just do the best that you can even if you lose and get thrown on the ground again and again someone will see it and acknowledge your efforts. I have been varsity all four years and have always been on the smaller side of players but that never scared me. I always tried my best and trusted myself.”
Even with the senior students not there they still give very valuable lessons to the younger players to keep pushing forward no matter what happens. The senior students set great examples for what younger players have to expect and how they excel in their game.
The seniors’ efforts and leadership is shown on the up and coming seniors and younger players. A Junior Athlete Devin Downs explained how he and the team will be affected by them leaving: “It’s always going to suck when they leave because you get so close to them, but they set the tone for next year and we need to carry on with what they have left us.”
The seniors left a huge impact individually and as a whole on the entire team, but it is important for the younger players to carry on what they have left and make them proud.
The effect seniors leave on the team is also huge to mention. “The seniors were a huge part of our team this year, but we have to focus on next year and get to work and win games next year,” said Downs.
Senior students leave a huge hole in the team and our hearts, but they set a huge example for younger players and it’s important to keep pushing through and be better as a whole team and individually.
