There are tears in underclassmen’s eyes as they watch their best friends and role models step onto the field for one last time. There are tears in parents’ eyes watching their babies play their sport one final time. The senior athletes’ eyes are tearing up as they step onto the field. They see countless memories they’ve endured over the past four years. They hear all the laughter they’ve shared with their teammates and coaches. They feel the tears after a heartbreaking loss. In a blink of an eye, tiny timid freshmen turn into strong, confident seniors.
Senior night is one filled with praise and memories. Senior night usually takes place on the last home game for a sport, honoring graduating seniors with ceremonies like walking on the field with their parents, receiving flowers and being recognized for their contributions to their team over the past four years. It’s a night every young athlete dreams of, and a night filled with many emotions.
Senior wide receiver Brady Brown felt all the emotions on his senior night. After walking down the track, accompanied by his parents before his big game, he took a second to appreciate how far he had come.
“I’ve been playing football here for 10 years, and [before the game] was just a moment of reflection for me,” Brown said. “It was a moment to take in one of the last times I’ll take the field.”
From catching his first pass to running through the tunnel in front of the home crowd one last time, Brown is no doubt going to miss the sport he fell in love with years ago. He’s savoring every last moment he has.
Although senior night focuses on senior athletes as individuals, the night also highlights the senior class as a whole. Oftentimes, this is when the coach also reflects on their time with their seniors over the years. Kaneland’s head varsity football coach, Mike Thorgesen, took a moment to reflect on his seniors.
“The [seniors] are just a good group of kids,” Thorgesen said. “I really enjoyed having them the last four years. They’re respectful, and they always work hard. I’m really going to miss them.”
Seniors are not only saying goodbye to their sport, but they’re also leaving their team behind.
“I think we’ve come a long way this year,” Thorgesen said. “We’ve had some ups and downs, and we’ve stuck together no matter what.”
Junior Colton VanDyke is thankful for the time he had with this year’s seniors. This is a season he will never forget.
“Shoutout to my teammates,” VanDyke said. “Every single one of them. We work well together. They’re always uplifting no matter what. Even if you mess up or make a bad play, they congratulate you and make sure you’re motivated.”
Senior night is bittersweet for everyone from the players to the coaches. Athletes have created many memories and bonding moments together over the years, then all of the sudden they play their last game. Soon, the bus rides home after a victory, late night practices, team dinners and heartbreaking losses all become distant memories.
