On every athletic facility in the Highschool, moms are holding black and gold garlands. Some have custom T- shirts reading “Senior Mother.” The number 26 is plastered everywhere. Friends hold giant cutouts of each senior players’ face.
What could this mean? The end of senior high school sports careers are right around the corner.
Every senior looks forward to when they get a basket full of candies and snacks they love from underclassmen who look up to them. Every senior game is a special moment for each Senior. The culmination of all the work they’ve put in is being appreciated as they have reached the apex. Tears join with laughter as underclassmen go around and say their favorite memories of each senior.
For girls, Volleyball Junior Kristen Schmid took the center stage (gym) as she presented her speech to her chosen senior saying how “they were on modified, jv, and varsity at the exact same time and [doesn’t] know what it is like to be on a team without [her]”.
Sophomore Ava Hoelderich struggled to even read her speech as her sight was blurred with tears and the overwhelming bitter sweet atmosphere.
Senior Nights also bring the stress of having to win.
Over in girls tennis senior Elaine Gong stated how she did “not want to lose her senior game.” To her it would be embarrassing and after all her hard work, of course she deserves this special win on such a night.
Not just for Nanuet seniors, it is often a suppressing idea to not succeed on the last try. It can often instill fear and ultimately cause a loss. The Nanuet Soccer team had been a pure sign of this although having the most success the team had seen in decades. With an intense senior game against Pearl River, entry to Sections would be an added pressure against this team. Witnessing the loss first hand, anyone could feel the passion of the players from the stands.
Senior Jae Rang Lee cried out “It cannot end like this” ten minutes before the close of the game. The struggle this team endured and tiring labor left everyone emotional. This is because it was more than a game to the seniors. Friends and family brought huge baskets (my friends and I made them!) The parents set up a catering section and told them to “keep their heads up high.”
Nanuet administration especially recognizes seniors at the close of their seasons and shows they truly admire their dedication to their teams and showing up stronger each year. Each senior is given a golden rose to be handed to their parent/guardian as a thank you. Although close to legal adults now, we are still precious in our parents’ eyes.
Many Seniors began their sports in fourth grade doing clubs and church groups.
Today we stand as the leaders of not only these sports, but our school as a whole. We are role models. As emotional as these moments may be, we cannot forget we are the faces of Nanuet and have a community to lead. Athletics is just one way we are able to accomplish this.