One Last Ride: senior athletes and COVID-19
Evan Harper, Staff Writer
For the past two years, senior athletes have had a tough last go at what they love to do because of COVID-19. Now that this year is much more open, seniors have the chance to fulfill their final year of being a college athlete as they imagined it.
Since COVID-19 began, athletes at every college in the country were forced to make a choice: graduate and never play your sport of choice again, or take an extra year to graduate just to play the sport you love. For many athletes, this is not an easy choice.
Starting attackman on the North Greenville men’s lacrosse team Thomas Cecere said he is very excited to finish this year out strong.
“I mean… last year I thought I was going to be done playing lacrosse forever. Knowing me and the guys get to give it one last go, it’s really a weird feeling of relief.” Cecere said.
The only reason athletes are at the schools they are, is because they were recruited. Being at a school and not playing the sport you were recruited for leaves almost an empty feeling.
This year gives athletes a different motivation than ever before.
“I have always had a good self-motivation but this year there’s a different kind of chip on my shoulder.” Cecere continued, “When something is taken away from you, but suddenly you get one last chance to get it back, you want to make sure that doesn’t happen again.”
Cecere emphasizes that everything is all business for the senior leaders on the North Greenville men’s lacrosse team. COVID-19 protocol is taken into serious note and everyone has each other’s back.
With North Greenville finally having somewhat of a back-to-normal year, every senior on every team on the campus has the same mentality: everybody wants to play, and everybody wants to win.
The teammates who aren’t seniors yet have said they understand how much this season means to seniors. This motivation bumps up the work ethic even more. Sports are back and seniors are ready for their last ride.
