Fall sports say goodbye to their seniors!

By Ria Patel, Langston Myers and Isabel Campos

St. Mary’s had a great fall sports season, and the seniors left their younger teammates valuable lessons. Hear what teammates have to say about the seniors’ contributions to their teams!

It is a hectic time of year for St. Mary’s sports as the volleyball, golf, and soccer teams wrap up their fall seasons. While championships and tournaments bring excitement to the St. Mary’s community, the end of the season also means that teams are forced to say goodbye to their cherished seniors.

For the St. Mary’s golf team, the seniors leaving means losing two-thirds of their varsity team is gone. Nonetheless, Keith Ellis Prest and Stuart Monaghan, will have a leave a lasting impression.

Kate Floyd (9), a JV golf player, says, “The seniors bring leadership, and they are really encouraging.” Floyd also says, “I remember I was . . . nervous during the tryouts, but they were really friendly.”

Megan Tang (11), the remaining one-third of varsity golf, shares that the seniors are some of her biggest cheerleaders. “The seniors show a lot of support,” she says. She also acknowledges the changes that will surely take place in their group dynamic.  Tang says, “It’s just crazy to think they’re going to leave.”

In addition to providing leadership for the golf team, Keith and Stuart themselves have grown throughout their time on the team. Mr. McCalla, coach of the golf team, speaks on the seniors’ improvement since they joined the golf team, saying “Stuart had the best round she’s ever had at regions.” He adds, “Keith Ellis, is a leader on the team, and she helps behind the scenes.”

Both Mr. McCalla and his players love their team and appreciate how close they have become because of their connection and common interest.

Mr. McCalla says, “This sounds weird to say, but it’s almost like we’re extended family; it’s more a family feel than a team feel.”

As golf geared up for regionals last week, volleyball also wrapped up their season on Oct. 3.  This year’s two turkey volleyball seniors Erin Katz and Alexis Jamison are notable players, and their stats speak for themselves. Erin, a varsity setter, averages 8 assists per match and has a serving percent of 95.3%.  Coach Duncan says, “Erin is one of our ‘quarterbacks’. The intelligent way in which she leads is instrumental to us executing an effective offense.”

Duncan also says, “AJ amps up the energy with her big kills, her big blocks, and when she gets excited for a teammate.” AJ averages 6.5 kills per match. She is also the career stat leader for St. Mary's with 61 blocks this year alone and a total of 234 over the last four years.

Still, the senior’s skills are not the only aspects that distinguish them as quality teammates.  Abbie Ryan (11), also a varsity setter, says, “Erin has helped me grow as a setter and player as a whole. I love that she is the person who I get to warm up with.”  Cecelia Boswell (9), who joined varsity as a freshman, says, “AJ is a leader of the team and always has fun while she is on the court. She is . . . supportively cheering on her teammates and picking them up when they are feeling down.”

While golf and volleyball say goodbye to their season, soccer is preparing to say hello to tournament time, which means they get to hold onto their eleven seniors for at least a couple more weeks. The seniors on the soccer team include Lucy Chancellor, Claire Daniel, Hattie Fogarty, Julia Hirt, Olivia House, Evie Lanie, Anna Rose LaMountain, Jessica Lewis, Allison McCown, Evelyn Roberts, and Martha Kay Williams.

Laura Isaacs (9), a freshman goalkeeper, says, “Each of the seniors has led by example and been encouraging and supportive to the freshmen. It's always great to be challenged and motivated by someone who is older than you, and they lead each practice by working hard and encouraging others to do the same.”

The experience the seniors bring to the team fosters a supportive relationship between the upper and underclassmen and allows the team to grow together. The youngest teammates often look up to the seniors as role models.

Sophie Droke (9) says, “The seniors are positive leaders and kind to the freshman, and are never exclusive. I was really excited to get to know all 11 of them. They motivate us in practice and always advise us to work hard and never give up.”

Lily Beasley (10) adds, “This year I was excited to be playing with the seniors because we have all gotten close over the seasons we've shared together. The seniors are all great leaders because they keep the rest of the team positive and focused by setting goals. The team can always count on the seniors for motivation and energy, which are important components for winning games.”

Though this year’s fall seniors might be retiring their Turkey jerseys, the memories they created and the success they incited will persist for seasons to come. We thank them for their persistent participation and passion and wish them luck in their upcoming endeavors as Turkey alumnae.

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