There’s a time where you start to experience the last of things and that’s when your senior year starts.
For some students here at Lakeland, they don’t play sports so they see it as just one more year of high school and they’re done.
Unlike for athletes it’s the last time they will play their sport at this school and with their teammates they have been with for four years of their athletic career or even since middle school.
Lakeland Hawks volleyball travels to Boise for state this weekend.
For the freshman it’s exciting to be playing at state for the first time but for our two seniors, Alyssa Ryckman and Chloe Neff, this is the last time they will experience state together, with their team, and with the coach they have had the last four years.
“It’s crazy to think that this is the last time I will ever put this jersey on,” Alyssa Ryckman said.
It might be an exciting feeling but also a realization that this is their last time with the teammates they have grown bonds with and have spent everyday with and every fall for the last four years.
“I am so grateful for the friendships and memories this team has made together,” Ryckman said.
It’s a moment that never feels real. You never thought that this time would come because you thought it was so far away but now it is actually happening.
For underclassmen, it’s a little different.
Katie Nave is a sophomore that plays outfield for lakeland softball. She came into the program at an odd time only losing one senior the year before but made the best friendships and experience for her freshman year.
“It doesn’t feel like I have a lot of time,” Nave said. “As long as we make it to state at least once in my high school career then I will feel like a goal was accomplished when I graduate,” Nave said.
Delilah Zimmerman is a senior and plays shortstop and catcher for lakeland softball. She wants to be able to look back at her senior year and be proud of her last season here at lakeland.
“I’ve always wanted to make it to state and you only get to live a moment like this once in your life and going to state would end my senior year on a great note,” Zimmerman said.
“It’s sad to see our seniors go because they made me feel welcomed my freshman year and make the environment on the field enjoyable,” Nave said.
Seniors experiencing their last season of sports either for high school or for a lifetime, it’s a huge moment in their lives. For the underclassmen they start to realize there isn’t much time left to accomplish a goal they made for themselves. The underclassmen have to adjust to the seniors/juniors leaving that welcomed them in their freshman year.
