The unexpected end of the year brought a lot of confusion for all students, especially seniors, who missed out on senior prom, prank day, skip day and a normal graduation. Senior athletes took another blow with the loss of a spring season and an in-person signing day.
“Honestly, I just miss playing with my teammates. I feel like the spring season especially is our time to just enjoy the sport again,” said Mia Davis, a senior soccer player who is headed to play for the University of Tampa in the fall. “I feel like we missed out on another state championship.”
Davis isn’t the only athlete who felt the loss of the regular spring season and the chance to compete for a state championship. The East women’s lacrosse team, coming off of a successful 2019 season where they made it to the state semifinals, was also looking to win states in 2020.
“This year we were gunning for a state championship because our team was super stacked…. I really believe we would have been a strong contender,” said Catie Siegling, a senior on the women’s lacrosse team. “It was ring season… we were robbed.”
Even more so than missing out on opportunities to compete athletically, many senior athletes miss the relationships created through their sports.
“Throughout my four years I’ve played with a lot of the same people, and have gotten to know some of my best friends,” said senior Owen Furlong, who plays baseball. “Those relationships have grown through going after school everyday to the cages or throw. I especially miss the ‘Vs. Cancer’ game [against Chapel Hill], the competitiveness, it just goes to another level. Just everyone being on edge and being ready to win. That’s definitely my highlight of all four of my years at East.”
Despite the loss of a final season, most athletes still shared three years with their team. Spencer Yandrowski, a track athlete headed to jump at M.I.T., has greatly appreciated his experience with the East track team.
“I would want to thank [my teammates] for being great and pushing me to be the way that I am, because without them, I don’t think it’d be as good of a high jumper as I am, and I doubt that I would be competing in college. So I’m really thankful that they’ve been really supportive and helped push me to be the best athlete that I can be.”
Photo by Benjamin McAvoy-Bickford/The ECHO
