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For Convent of the Sacred Heart senior athletes, the end of the fall season marks the last time they will play, run, or row for their high school fall teams. The season is not complete without honoring the seniors’ contributions to Sacred Heart athletics on Senior Day.
Tuesday, October 22, varsity field hockey celebrated its Senior Day with a 6-0 win against St. Luke’s School. The juniors, sophomores and freshmen on the team prepared a video for their seniors to psych them up for the final home game. The underclassmen secretly recorded footage of the seniors in the weeks prior to Senior Day and then compiled a video with background music.
“I had no idea the team had been filming us in the locker room and down on the field for the previous weeks. So much was a surprise to see on screen,” senior Sarah McDonald said.
As well as presenting posters and cookies to the seniors, the team also decorated the locker room in green paper, balloons, and streamers. A sign reading “Senior Day 2013″” hung at the entrance.
“They were the best decorations I had ever seen,” senior Kate Larkin said. “The best part was walking into a pitch-black locker room and getting sprayed with silly string after we had broken through the senior banner.”
In addition to decorating its locker room, the varsity soccer team surprised its senior teammates with customized t-shirts, monogrammed stickers and a spray-painted message on the field which read, “We <3 Our Seniors.”
Although the team lost to Greens Farms Academy, the players’ spirits were brightened after the game when juniors read aloud letters they had written to the seniors.
“I loved everything about senior day,” senior Tara Hammonds said. “My favorite part was the speech after the game, which was incredibly heartfelt and left me in tears!”
Cross country coach, Bradley Miller, also read speeches to honor the seniors on the cross country team. Although senior Jacqueline Thomas had to drop out of the race due to a knee injury, the underclassmen still cheered her on. They presented her with a poster and a customized t-shirt to acknowledge her contribution to the team.
Senior Mimi Dunn was unable to receive these gifts in person because she was at home with Lyme disease. Despite her high fever and headache, she was still able to feel like a part of the celebration.
“My mom brought the poster home along with my rose, took videos, and presented them to me when I woke up from my nap,” she said.
The Sacred Heart varsity volleyball seniors were surprised with a decorated gym and a huge banner on the wall that read “We Love Our Seniors” inspiring the team to beat Westover 3-0.
“The atmosphere was so supportive and I could literally feel the chemistry of our team as we celebrated our last home game win of the season,” senior Amanda Crowell said.
After the win, the team retreated to the cafeteria where a buffet of cookies, brownies, and cupcakes awaited them. The underclassmen presented posters and tiaras to the seniors.
The most recent Senior Day celebration took place Sunday, November 10, at the crew team’s Snowflake Regatta. Despite the arduous conditions, the novice, junior varsity, and varsity boats placed first, fourth and second respectively.
“I didn’t think we were going to finish the race because it was so windy but I was relieved when we crossed the finish line,” senior Regina Ferrara said.
After the race, crew seniors received their medals, roses, and posters. Their celebration was cut short because of impending rain.
Fall sport’s Senior Days recognize senior athletes for their participation in the schools athletic program. Varsity volleyball member, junior Claire O’Neill, thinks Senior Day is a great way to honor the seniors’ contributions to the team.
“Each of those seniors brighten my every day and it was only right to thank them for all the time and effort they have put into bettering the team as players and as people,” Claire said.
– Alice Millerchip, Co-Sports and Health Editor