Fall Sports Celebrate Senior Night and Soccer Hosts Youth Teams

By Dan McNair, Video Editor
October 10, 2016

Every season, senior student athletes look forward to being recognized on their chosen sport’s senior night.

Susky players join hands to make a tunnel for young athletes to run through. Photo by Laurie Kettinger.
Susky players join hands to make a tunnel for young athletes to run through. Photo by Laurie Kettinger.

For those who are unaware, every sport’s senior night is a short ceremony before a home game where each senior student-athlete is escorted across the field or court while their athletic achievements and future plans are announced.

With many athletes participating in a sport for all four years of high school, seniors consider “senior night” to be very important because it is a culmination and acknowledgement of years of hard work.

For fall sports that generally draw a large crowd, senior night is a large event.

Senior girl’s volleyball player Kelly Doogan has played for all four years of high school.

Young players line up on the field. Photo by Laurie Kettinger.
Young players line up on the field. Photo by Laurie Kettinger.years of high school.

“I honestly think it is important,” said Doogan.
“The seniors get recognition for all of the years of hard work they’ve been playing the sport, and it’s their last year before they

leave. For volleyball, we’ve been playing together for like five years, and our senior night is on our last home game. I’m excited for my parents to escort me across the gym because they’ve always pushed me to compete and taken me around to all of my games; they put in their own time to give me the chance to play.”

Mason-Dixon players join the starting lineups to have their names announced. Photo by Laurie Kettinger.
Mason-Dixon players join the starting lineups to have their names announced. Photo by Laurie Kettinger.

During the pregame ceremony and halftime of their 4-0 victory over West York, the Susky Boy’s Soccer team welcomed the many youth teams from around southern York County.

Mason Dixon players join West York's starting lineup. Photo by Laurie Kettinger.
Mason Dixon players join West York’s starting lineup. Photo by Laurie Kettinger.

Several youth players joined the varsity starting lineups of both teams at the midfield to have their names announced before the game, giving the crowd a glimpse at the future players of Warrior Soccer.

During halftime, when the attending youth teams lined up along the length of the field to goal to have their team name announced, the young players were so great in number that they nearly stretched from goal to goal.

Senior varsity athlete Lucas Miller walked a youth player to the field during Youth Night.

“Standing right next to the future of the program was a really cool experience for me,” said Miller.

“They had a blast and that’s really what its’ all about”.

Susky's Varsity starters walk young players to the midfield. Photo by Laurie Kettinger.
Susky’s Varsity starters walk young players to the midfield. Photo by Laurie Kettinger.

Overall, the spectators, coaches, and players of all ages had the opportunity to share a fun, lighthearted experience with local young athletes.