NEWS | MAY 2023
Seniors Leave The Team
The Season is Coming to an End and the Seniors are Saying Goodbye by Peyton Walls reporter
The year is coming to an end and that means it’s time for the seniors to leave for their journeys through life. They will be leaving classes, teams, and clubs. “It’s sad to see [the seniors] leave because I’ve formed friendships with them,” sophomore Taylor Nielsen said. Meeting people and forming relationships with the people you meet is what highschool is for. Being on a sports team grows people closer, building those relationships stronger because a team works, loses and wins together all season. “It’s a weird feeling to leave a team high school so I’ve watched them grow that I treat and look at like family,” se- throughout the years.” Even not getting as much playing nior Danielle Desmarteau said. “I won’t be able to talk to them as much any- time as everyone else on the team still more, and they are my support system makes you a part of the team and a part right now so it’s just hard to even think of the people on the team. Being remembered for how you played or how about leaving right now.” People come and go, each teaching you acted isn’t always what people want, lessons along the way. Teammates will some like to be remembered for their teach life lessons but also lessons that position. “I want to be remembered as the best correlate with the sport being played. benchwarmer in the “Just play your game, relax "I want to be remembered as league,” senior Daniel Palacio said. and have fun,” Juthe best benchwarmer in the Coaches have had nior Riley Braden league.” an important role in said. “Enjoy every making the seniors minute of the seaDaniel Palacio, senior who they are going son.” to be in college. They Even though teams lose people the teams gain new teach the kids new things in an outside pictures of how things work. Others step of school and life environment. “Schmitt has already been there for up and take leadership roles and value what was lost but also make something me and she is an amazing hype woman for games,” Desmarteau said. “I like benew. “I’m a leader right now and when ing able to have a coach that I can talk I’m gone I want the team to take on that to and see everyday outside of soccer rerole and excel at it,” Desmarteau said. “I lated things.” High school sports are a place that want them to take what they have seen isn’t school and isn’t everyday life. from me and other leaders and make it School sports are a place to go and be better.” Each year the athletic trainer sees se- with people you see everyday and not niors leave, they care for them all season have to be the best at the sport but be and then just watches them move on. able to share a common goal with othThis year is a little different for athletic ers. “I’m really sad to leave this team,” trainer, Cooper Sax, this class of seniors Palacio said. “We all came together holds a special place in his heart. “Since this is my fourth year at wanting to play the same sport and do South, this senior class has a little extra good at it but once we started we got so special something,” Cooper Sax said. close and I know I wont have relation“I’ve been with them since they came to ships like that again.” Hiding true feelings towards some-
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thing is something everyone has done. It can be noticed more from an outside perspective. “I think that they try to be locked in but knowing that it’s the last high school game and will potentially never play again.” Sax said. Even though the seniors are leaving, the school they go to is still their school and they will always still support their school. That is shown when they come back for important games or events to support their teams. “I definitely think some [seniors] will come back,” Braden said. “Especially for those bigger games.” When teammates leave the team loses something; a leader, a passer, a hitter, or a friend. Gaps are filled eventually but the teammates who were close with the seniors that leave know what they are missing and what they need for the mechanics of the team to flow properly. “Losing their knowledge of the game and their leadership that they bring,” Nielsen said. “They have so much experience but I also think that players grow so the incoming seniors will also have new experience to bring.” High school sports are coming to an end and so is this year. You don’t have to be the best to participate in the sports high school offers to be able to play, it’s all about the experience and the relationships that are built. “Just go out and have fun,” Palacio said. “As long as you put some drive and work into what you’re doing it will be the best time of your high school experience.” e illustrations by | Ashley Rottinghaus