A senior athlete walks down the court, the crowd cheering for the 2024 senior class. They link arms with their parents and walk into the line of seniors also being recognized, this is the night they have been waiting for since they were a freshman.

Senior night is a once a year occasion for every sport at MCHS. It is an event to recognize the seniors and their accomplishments throughout their years playing for MCHS.

“To me it’s a big night to commemorate seniors,” said senior basketball player Hayden Stone. “For me it gave me a sense of recognition and a good sense of all my accomplishments. It is a big moment for everybody.”

Senior night is different for everybody, with many different motivations and feelings going into the end of their high school sports. They tend to reminisce on their years at high school, and their favorite moments from their sports.

“Something that I’ll remember is just walking onto the field and seeing the people in the stands and on the field,” said Mason Zriny, Senior football player at MCHS. “I’ll remember seeing everyone on the field one more time before I go onto the next chapter of my life.”

Senior night is always an emotional night to be remembered, as many seniors will never fail to remember their time with their team and coaches, as well as how quickly the time flew by.

“Enjoy every second of high school, it goes by so fast.” said Skyler Balzer, a senior on the track team. “I’m gonna miss my team and coaches so much.”

Other seniors spread their advice to their teammates, hoping to help out the teammates under them, so they can have the opportunity for a better experience.

“I just say have fun,” said Stone. “Make the most of it, you only have so much time left to try and go as far as you can and surprise a lot of people, do a lot of things you’ve never thought you could.”

Seniors have a feeling of pride being on their field for the last time. Often reflecting on all of the hard work they put in to get where they are today. Reflecting on the long four years that they endured for where they stand today.

“Go 100% all of the time because you’ll never know when your last play is,” said Zriny. “You’ll regret not trying, also just enjoying being on that field, and being proud of what you’ve done on it.”

Oftentimes the most missed part of high school sports are their coaches and teammates, people that they have spent building connections with for years, turning more into a family than a team.

“The biggest thing is the memories and the people that you’re going to meet,” said Pedro Jimenez, a senior wrestler. “It’s not about the actual accomplishments that you’ll make.”

Some senior athletes will miss the coaches that took them in and gave them a role model in their lives.

“I’ll miss my relationships with my coaches,” said Stone, “they brought me in and just gave me a push in the back, just really going to miss them.”

Standing in the line, the excitement builds until every senior has been called. It is finally time for the game to begin. As all of the players get ready for the game, one last line from the announcer resonates in their head, “Good luck seniors.”