The End: Seniors reflect on their last season in the sport they grew up with

Photo Credit: Braylen Aikens

By: Olivia Cannon

Imagine you spent almost your entire life doing something–something that decides what you do after school, when you take a vacation, who are going to be your friends are, and in many ways, this thing could become your entire life. Imagine that one day it just ends. For many seniors, this is the reality. 

Trustedcoaches.org suggests parents start their kids in competitive sports as soon as they start grade school at six years old or even younger. That means that by the time these athletes reach the end of their senior year, they have been doing this for around twelve years. However, according to the NCAA, less than 10% of high school athletes will go on to compete at any college level. That means for 90% of student athletes, the sport that they have spent countless hours on is about to come to an end. 

I went and talked to three seniors, all from different sports, about what this big change is going to be like for them, and reflected on the time they spent on this sport.

Ricky Wright: Football

Photo Credits: Ricky Wright

Ricky Wright playing football as a kid (left) when he lived in Nevada, and a picture of him during his senior season (right).

Wright is a senior on the Jenks Varsity Football team. I was suggested to talk to him by a coach and had a quick interview with him about his time on the team and his senior year. We did the interview outside of the Trojan Activity Center; he was supposed to be helping set up for the dodgeball tournament, so we had to keep it short. Here is an edited version of our conversation:

Q-When did you start playing football?

A-I've been playing for 10 years, so when I was seven years old. I think since the third or fourth grade. 

Q-How did you get into playing football?

A- I had been playing football for so long. My parents didn't let me play tackle, but I met a friend who was playing tackle. He just said I should join because of how much fun it is. So I just joined, and it's what I've been doing for 10 years ever since.

Q-When did you start doing flag football?

A-Probably when I was in first grade. I think I was six.

Q-Is your family big on football?

A-Yes! Dad's a huge fan of football, I am, and my mom's a fan too.

Q-What position do you play?

A-I play receiver and safety.

Q-What does that do?

A-Receiver, you just catch the ball. And then safety is the last time on defense, I would say.

Q-How has this year been as a senior compared to the other years?

A-I would say there are more activities that you do, they truly do a great job of getting the seniors that have been there for... especially for me, I've only been at Jenks for four years .. but those seniors that have been playing football since they were freshmen, they truly do a really great job of just getting them doing activities during summer.

 We do a senior retreat. Where all the seniors and all the coaches go out to Grand Lake and stay at this cabin. You hang out with all the seniors, then at night, you talk about what you've enjoyed the most and what football has done for you outside of football, also in football.

Q-Do you remember what you said?                   

A-I talked about how living in Reno, the environment of football was a lot different. I  feel like everyone's more competitive, and everyone helps themselves and helps others get better. It's changed a lot for me because it's just been truly such a blessing to be in Jenks and playing football, and how much it's helped me.

Q-Where is Reno?

A-It's in Nevada. It's right on the border of California. It's an hour away from the capital of Nevada.

Q-What were the thoughts and the emotions on senior night?

A- I was definitely very nervous going into it because you're walking out in front of everybody. But as you're walking out, you just think about how you’ve been here for four years. I've put so much time into it, and that's my final regular-season game after this. I'm never going to play football again, so you just get a rush. Everything is just coming at you all at one time. You're feeling so many different things and thinking so many different things. But at the end of the day, you just enjoy it because all you really can do is enjoy it. If you become super emotional, it'll ruin it for you. All you have to do is just be happy with what you're in because if you let yourself become sad about it or start thinking, ‘Oh, this is your last game,’  it will ruin that experience for you.

Q-Would you say there was a different energy coming into this season compared to the other ones?

A-100%. I think that in previous years, obviously, you wanted to win that state championship, but during the summers, I feel like the intensity was a little bit different. Maybe the mindset before this, it definitely wasn't for me, but I know for a couple of people, it was just like, ‘Oh, I don't think we have a chance this year’ but this year with the new change and a head coach and just the intensity we had and our work ethic this summer, and the standard we were held to this summer. Definitely during the first game, especially during the preview, we definitely thought, Oh, we can 100% win this state this year. 

(We talked more about his practice schedule after that, and what kind of stuff they do at practice. But that's a little off topic, and I don't know if I'm supposed to share how they practice, so we’re going to skip over that. Just know they practice a lot.)

Q-What was your favorite memory of being on the Jenks football team?

A-I would say probably senior night. Just getting to go out there with the dudes I've been with for four years and all being able to celebrate. Then, how the entire game is meant for you, almost, it's definitely a very different feeling. It's just very special. 

That or I would say freshman year, because it wasn't very serious, freshman year. It was just honestly really fun in everything we did.

Q-What life lessons have you learned in football that you're going to take on with you for the rest of your life?

A-I would definitely say stuff like work ethic-related, and then probably other things like... I mean, honestly, I'd say it's more just work ethic-related than teamwork. I'd say being able to work in a team successfully.

Wright has had a great time playing football and made a lot of friends and memories. Wright explains very well the kind of emotions that he had during important moments like senior night, but also says that it's important to stay in the moment. He has also learned a lot of things from playing for so long, especially how to persevere. To keep up with how the Jenks football team does in their playoff games, follow @jenksfootballbosterclub on Instagram or @rickywright to see how he takes the lessons he's learned to post graduation

Braylen Aikens: Golf

Photo Credits: Braylen Aikens

Braylen Aikens playing golf as a young kid (left) and as a senior in high school (right).

Aikens is a senior on the Jenks golf team. I was suggested to interview her by one of her teammates. We did an interview in the common area during third hour and talked a lot about her experiences on the team and what she is going to miss the most. 

Q- How did you get into golf?

A-My brothers started playing golf when I was in, like, second grade. So I started playing golf with them sometimes, and I went to the first tee, and I started practicing, and eventually I just kept with it in, like, third grade.

Q-How long have you been playing it competitively?

A-Since seventh grade.

Q- What were you looking forward to the most for your last year in golf?

A-My last year in golf, I was just mainly looking forward to keeping connections with all. With all my teammates and making more friends, going out on the golf course, and just having fun in general. I'm just excited for the memories that I'm going to make with all my teammates and how great it's going to be with all my coaches, and just excited, I don't even know. Just to have fun with it, I guess.

Q-Do you have a favorite memory from being on the team?

A-My favorite memory is probably our overnight trips and even the bus rides in the morning, and the girls getting so hyped. Especially after we win, like, the bus ride home. We'll blast music, and we'll go out to eat after our tournaments. And that's really fun, too, because you really just talk about your rounds with people, and it's just a big community, I guess.

Q- Was there a point in the year when you, like, realized that this is the last time you're going to be competing in golf?

A-I don't think it has hit me yet. Like, I've understood that it's my senior year and this is it, but I don't know, I just. I don't really think about it that much. But when it does hit me, I'm sure I'm probably going to cry about it. I feel like this season has been more relaxed. Like, I don't have that much pressure on me anymore. I don't put that much pressure on myself because I am just happy where I'm at, so I'm just calmer. And when I go out, like, I don't necessarily get upset anymore, which is good.

Q- What kind of pressures were there in past years that were keeping you from being as calm? 

A-So I am on JV as a senior, which is, like, sad. And it sucks because you don't want to be looked at as, like, oh, you're a senior that plays JV. And I really wanted to be on varsity, but I was like, these girls want to go to college for golf. I don't. They practice a lot more than I do. So once I just kind of realized that for myself, I just–not that I don't care–I just kind of calmed down a little bit.

Q- What kind of pressure was there in past years?

A- There was a lot more pressure, because I felt like I was always in competition with my teammates, because we have bag orders. And so I was like, oh, what bag am I gonna be this tournament? What's gonna happen? And I felt like with past teammates, there's just been more hate towards each other rather than just being like, ‘oh, you did great today. I'm so proud of you,’ you know?

Q-Can you explain what the bag orders mean?

A-So for varsity, there are bags one through five, and so the top four bags are normally what scores get used. And a fifth bag is an alternative. So let's say bag five shoots better than bag three. Then they'll take that score instead.

Q-Is there anything you are doing to try and help with the competitiveness with the younger kids to make them feel more welcome?

A-Oh, yeah. Every single practice, we always compete against each other, and they're like, ‘oh, I'm gonna do better than you.’ So I just talk trash to them, but not too much, though just enough to keep them going.

Q- I know from an underclassman's perspective, I've always felt so sad when the seniors are leaving. How are you gonna feel about leaving the lower classmen?

A-Oh, I'm gonna cry because in my years before this, I feel like our seniors and upperclassmen have been really rude to underclassmen. But this year, I love all of the freshmen. They're so sweet and so funny, and I've already made really good connections with them, and we're really close, so I don't want to leave them, but I have to. I’m probably going to cry.

Q-Do the seniors have any traditions for the last year, or are there any traditions in general on the team?

A- We only really do bigs and littles, which is fun when it comes to, like, our team bonding. Our bigs and littles usually get together and have competitions, especially at Christmas. We normally have a gingerbread house building contest.

Q-Did you guys have a senior night yet?

A-Our senior night is in February.

Q- Are you looking forward to that?

A-I'm kind of scared. I feel like I'll cry. I don't know. I don't want to cry in front of people, but, yeah, I am.

Q-Is there any life lessons you've learned in golf that you're gonna, like, take on to you after high school?

A-Patience, I would say, is probably the biggest lesson that I've learned. You have to know that not everything is going to happen all at once, and it just happens with time. So you just have to learn how to control it.

Q-What college or, like, what job are you planning to go for after college?

A-I want to go into nursing. I want to be an aesthetics nurse, which I would say is, like, an easier job of nursing. It's basically where you put Botox in people's faces. And I'm going well, my plan is to go to A and M University in Tallahassee. And I'm gonna try to do nursing there. Hopefully, I get in, but I've gotten into OSU, so that's my backup plan.

Aikens has had a great time on the golf team, making memories, and still has the spring season left. She is going to take her experiences from her past high school as she goes to college to become an aesthetic nurse and will probably still play golf for fun with her Dad and brother. If you want to keep up with how the golf team does in their final season, follow @jenks golf on Instagram or @brenjnkjhdfjgn to see how she takes her experiences with her to help with her life after high school.

Beck Schissel: Tennis 

Photo Credit: @hypelightphotosllc

Beck Schissel on the left and teammate Eli Clink on the right.

Schissel is a senior on the Tennis team. I was suggested to talk to him by his coach. We had a quick interview during his fifth hour and talked a lot about playing tennis with his family and what he plans on doing with the lessons he has learned from tennis.  

Q-How long have you been playing tennis?

A-I've been playing tennis for 11 years now. Almost 12.

Q-Oh, dang. How did you get into it?

A-My family always played it, so I kind of got ushered into it. So kind of something that I grew up with.

Q-How often do you play with your family?

A-I play with my family. At least, I'll say twice a week, just because everybody plays. So it's really easy. Like, if someone's boring or someone wants to get out and hit and exercise. It's easy because my whole family plays. So I can ask anybody.

Q-Do you play it at, like, your house, or do you go somewhere?

A-We'll go to play at Phil Crest Hill Tennis Club. 

Q-Do you have siblings on the team with you?

A-I do. I have a little brother. He is a freshman this year. He just got on. And then last year, my older brother was a senior. So, yeah, I kind of. It's. It's really nice having someone to guide me, as with my older brother. He was there for three years. Well, with me for three years. So it was nice to kind of get integrated with him. It was easier. And it's now nice to be able to be that for my little brother and kind of help him get into the team.

Q- What are you hoping that he learns from you?

A-I hope he learns, kind of, just how to be a team player and how to honestly do the best he can on the tennis team, whether that means cooperating as much as he can with his partners or increasing his work ethic when it comes to tennis. That's kind of what I want to see from him. I want to see him find ways to get better.

Q- How has this year been different from other years, since it is your last?

A- So this year, the vibe is: this is it, so try your hardest to get varsity or, you know, play the best you can because it's not going to matter past this. This is the last hurrah. I'm going to play as hard as I can. So that's kind of what the vibe has been this year.

Q-Was there, like, a point when you first realized, like, this is it?

A- Once we started practicing again, and maybe a month in practicing, it was like ‘All right, now I gotta keep going because they're talking about lineups for state and everything. So if I'm not on that, I won't have another chance.’

Q-Is there anything you are looking forward to most for this season?

A-Probably just, well, hopefully winning tournaments, haha. But besides that, probably I know it's cheesy to say memories, but it is my senior year, so it's the memories that I can make because it's the last time that I'm gonna be able to make them.

Q-Do you have a favorite memory that you've made so far?

A-So far? Probably just getting so, like, just having team dinners when you're going to state or when you're staying the night at some place, those are the best ones.

Q-Are there any lessons from tennis that you're going to take on to life after high school?

A-Yeah, definitely drive, like perseverance. I've learned more perseverance from being able to play in a school team. And then just hard, hard work, and how much work I need to put into something to get what I want.

Q-Have you seen that go into your schoolwork?

A-Yeah, so it's definitely because I started seriously caring about getting on varsity during my sophomore year. That's kind of when I started playing harder and practicing more. And then I kind of offset my work. So I'm like, okay, now I need to work harder as well because I'm putting so much time into this. That's kind of an increase in my work for tennis.

Q-What are your plans for after high school? Like, job-wise.

A-Job wise I want to do sports psychology because I've seen how hard it is to play tennis, how much of a mental struggle and mental game it is for tennis, especially in singles when you're just there by yourself. I've seen how hard it is to overcome a lot. Such a mental game.

Q-Can you explain what kind of mental struggles there are with it?

A- Well, with singles, it's just you out there. So if you make a mistake, it's on you to tell yourself, ’it's gonna be okay,’ and I see a lot of people who have a really hard time with that, where if you get down on yourself, it's just a slippery slope, and you just keep getting down and worse on yourself. So it's a lot of just getting yourself back in the game, getting in the right headspace, keeping yourself in the right headspace. And then doubles are different because you have someone to help you with it. But it's a lot more strategy-based based and there's a lot more you have to bounce off your partner. And if they're going one way, you need to go one way, it's like. It's a bunch. It's more of a mental game than a singing game.

Q-Do you play singles or doubles?

A-I'm a doubles player.

Q-What is your favorite part of that

A-Probably having a partner because you're playing at the same time with someone. It is nice to have that one other person you can rely on. It makes it a special bond with that person, especially if you're playing with them the whole season. 

Schissel is taking his experience from having played tennis for so long into life after high school, not just with all the memories, but also the work ethic and the experiences he has had that will better help him relate to what is going on with his future patients as a sports psychologist. If you want to keep up with how the tennis team will do in their last season, follow @jenkstenissofichal on Instagram or @beckschissle to see how he takes his experiences from tennis with his past graduation. 

Leaving the sport you have played for so long is a very hard thing, and these seniors explained to the kids the emotions they have felt about it, but overall, they all say that it is important to stay in the moment, not put too much pressure on yourself, and try the hardest you can. I think we can learn a lot of things from these athletes, and I wish them all good luck on their last season and on their journey after High School.