Four years of hard work and dedication, celebrated and put on display in one night. Athletes who have spent hundreds of hours on the court, trails, fields, or in pools throughout their childhood and high school careers get to revel in the culmination of their hard work, accompanied by the teammates who have helped them through the journey and the fans who have supported them. Each of the 26 varsity sports at Westminster has incredible seniors who help lead and mentor the team. Senior Nights normally conclude one of the games, matches, meets, or practices, and each athlete is joined alongside their parents, siblings, and other important people in their lives. They are then met by their coach with flowers to take photos to commemorate the special moment. Some other special traditions include matching t-shirts, balloons, food, spirit gear, and more. Entire programs have been shaped thanks to seniors, so having a night to focus on their accomplishments is imperative to the Westminster athletic program and community as a whole.
Seniors from all sports have described Senior Night to be a closure and the end of the journey of being a high school athlete. It is a night that is filled with excitement and anticipation. Being a high school athlete has many ups and downs, so having a night to celebrate and show gratitude is crucial. Senior Night brings out a lot of seniors to support each other, making Senior Night one of the most attended games during the season.
Not only are the athletes celebrated, but so are all the students who help support the teams. Each team has its support team of managers, coaches, and broadcasters. These students’ work may not have been seen or appreciated before, so Senior Night gives each of them the recognition that they deserve.
While Senior Night may seem to only make an impact on the athletes themselves, many underclassmen, coaches, fans, and parents have shared their appreciation for not only Senior Night but also the senior athletes in general.
Varsity volleyball coach Jaime Maxey described Senior Night as “a night to honor our seniors and all that they have done.” From all of the incredible leadership that they have put in, as well as teaching the rest of the girls on the team how to be successful student-athletes, the seniors do it all. The volleyball team, with nine of the fourteen girls on the roster being underclassmen, is one of the many sports teams that shows amazing leadership from seniors.
“Senior Night shows the underclassman what they can do, and the journey that comes with being a student-athlete,” said Maxey.
One of these underclassmen, sophomore setter Munday Tyrone, shared what Senior Night means to her.
“Senior Night is a celebration of our seniors and all the leadership and hard work they put into our team,” she said.
Some of the most impactful people on the journey of being a high school athlete are parents.
One former and current varsity cross country parent shared the excitement of “celebrating this tradition with her second child” and that Senior Night is an “opportunity to come together with all of the other senior families and celebrate the hard work that our kids put into seasons.”
Families have to put in the hard work and commitment of supporting a student-athlete in high school, from the early and late practices, games, and studying, to supporting their kids through the journey of being on a varsity team. Fans of all ages have described Senior Night as an amazing opportunity to support their friends and appreciate all that they have done for the program. Senior Night ensures the recognition of the hard work and dedication of the senior student-athletes and memories that will last a lifetime.
Edited by Neil Govin
