On Oct. 8, Jefferson’s varsity field hockey team dominated the Lewis Lancers in a 6-0 win at their senior night game. The Colonials took home a meaningful win for the seniors and the season as a whole.
“This season feels different because I know it will be my last time for everything in my high school field hockey career,” senior goalie Katie Nguyen said. “I will truly miss field hockey and the memories that come with it.”
Nguyen has been on the team for all four years of high school, spending time at both the JV and varsity level.
“Field hockey was the first thing I ever did coming to Jefferson, with tryouts being all the way in Aug.,” Nguyen said. “I made my first friends at Jefferson because of field hockey. Now that it’s my last season, it feels full circle.”
Senior night is a widely loved tradition across all sports, where the team celebrates the seniors who have given time and energy to their programs. They hold a ceremony prior to the game, where they announce the seniors and have them walk out with their families. These festivities also included gifts and decorations for the seniors on the field hockey team.
“The underclassmen did a really good job at going all out and making everything feel personalized,” Nguyen said. “All of the senior night posters had our individual sticks [on them], which I think was a really cute touch that I hadn’t seen before.”
While senior night can be very exciting with big wins and fun decorations, it can also be bittersweet for the seniors. Especially when they have to leave behind underclassmen that they have spent so much time with.
“Over the past three seasons, we’ve spent about 10 hours each week in the fall playing hockey,” Nguyen said. “Through that time, I’ve come to know them as more than just teammates. All of them are so funny and kind, and I really will miss playing and talking with them. I don’t have any younger siblings, but whenever I’m driving [the underclassmen] all around or messing with them, it feels like I do.”