With the fall sports season wrapping up, so are many senior high school athletes’ final seasons. Senior night is a tradition where all the parents walk their kids onto the field and get introduced before the game or during halftime. For many athletes and families, it’s a very special moment marking the end of the players’ high school athletic careers in the sport they grew up playing through high school or, for some, most of their lives.
Boys’ head soccer coach Anson Opara said senior night is crucial because it pays homage to all the hard work students put into the sport they play. He said the seniors are recognized by the community and are able to inspire the underclassmen.
“It’s a time to celebrate all of the time and effort that they put into the soccer program,” Opara said. “It also reflects on kids who are younger to see as they’re coming up, what the end of the high school sports career is like, and it’s important to honor them for all their work.”
Senior football player Max Olson said he enjoys that the football team takes the time for the players to be recognized by the football families and the Park community before the game.
“It’s always a night to honor the older guys because (for) a lot of them, this is their last season ever playing football,” Olson said. “This year, it’s our senior night, so it feels good to be recognized.”
Senior soccer player Sophia Dvorak said senior night has a positive influence on the game because the team is fueled by wanting to obtain the win for the seniors.
“(Senior night) affects (the game) in a better way because you want to win,” Dvorak said. “You’re trying to do it, hopefully for your seniors and for your team in general, so you’re pushing to win the game.”
Opara said he doesn’t think senior night affects the outcome of the game being played. He said it may even boost the motivation and intensity going into the game.
“It might have a little impact on the game, but not to any high standard,” Opara said. “It does heighten the kids’ visibility, and they get a lot of kids that come and celebrate them. They’re playing for their friends a lot more than they are in a typical game, but I don’t think it’s distractive to the game.”
Senior volleyball player Meaghan Knight said she thinks it’s important to recognize every senior on the entire team, regardless of JV (junior varsity) or varsity, since each individual is working hard.
“It recognizes our seniors, especially because we have so many this year, and we all have made such an impact on the team,” Knight said. “It’s not just varsity that has seniors, so being able to acknowledge all teams.”
Dvorak said she likes senior night because it sets a good example for the underclassmen.
“I love the overall aspect of showing your love for seniors because it’s their last year,” Dvorak said. “It’s a great way to see what you’ll become as a student-athlete as a freshman.”
Park football held their 2024 senior ceremony prior to the football game itself. Olson said he wishes the celebration was at halftime so more people could be there to see all the seniors.
“I wish that we did introductions at halftime instead of before the game so that the whole crowd could be there,” Olson said.
Knight said her favorite part of senior night was how all the seniors came together and being able to see the strong bond they built through the years together on the volleyball team.
“(The highlight of senior night is) being on the court with people that I wouldn’t usually be on the court with,” Knight said. “Honestly, (at) the moment, it feels like we’re all just friends, and we’re not playing volleyball—it’s just really fun and a good time to get all the girls together.”
