Senior year is notorious for endings and goodbyes. It’s a bittersweet moment as students take the first steps into adulthood while leaving behind much of their high school experience. One part of high school that is often left behind after graduation is sports.
Everyone’s reason is different, but many high school seniors have to say goodbye to their sports as they start the next chapter of their lives, since not everyone can commit to play in college or sign professionally. This is oftentimes one of the hardest goodbyes of the year as being a student athlete is a defining trait in many students’ high school experiences.
“My best friends are on my team with me and I don’t know how I would’ve survived high school without them. My coaches have also provided an extra level of support that I believe everyone should have when trying to navigate through high school. My teammates and coaches have always celebrated my successes with me but have also been there for me when I needed them,” shares Senior Sammy Ciampa.
As a long-term runner for both Trinity’s cross country and track and field teams, Ciampa is no stranger to getting involved with high school athletics. After around seven years as a runner, Ciampa decided to prioritize attending her dream school, Wake Forest University, and majoring in biology rather than finding a school to run at, since it would have been too much of a time commitment.
As the 2024-2025 school year draws to a close, it’s time for Trinity’s seniors to reflect on their time at the school. For many students, their connection with Trinity athletics has shaped them into the young adults they’re becoming and they will carry the lessons they’ve learned from their coaches, teammates and competitors into the future with them.
At Trinity High School, the Hillers are expected to learn to work hard and try their best to win, but most importantly, they’re taught sportsmanship. When students step into the Trinity locker rooms, they’re taught that their hard work will pay off, that they aren’t defined by their performance on the field or mat and that the best part of being an athlete is having fun.
Senior Matthew Hartley, who has been involved in multiple sports from football to swimming to track, says, “My coaches and teammates have shaped me into the person I am in many different ways. They’ve taught me how to play the sports, showed me how to be loving to others and showed me that we’d be there for each other when needed. Sports have also taught me to be humble and that it’s not all about you; it’s about everyone around you, and I’ll carry these lessons with me into the future.”
Although the student athlete experience has helped shape many Trinity students into the best version of themselves,
it doesn’t come without its struggles. Regardless of their chosen sport, it’s difficult for anyone to balance homework, studying and clubs with practices and games. Oftentimes, students have to push themselves to the brink to accomplish all of their academic and athletic goals, which many can find draining.
“I try to get as much done during the day as possible. When I get home I don’t let myself relax until the rest of my work is done,” adds Ciampa.
With the end of their athletic careers comes a fresh start for many of Trinity’s student-athletes, who will now have more time for themselves, their studies and their friends. To these student athletes who will soon become full-time students, remember to cherish the memories from the past but embrace the future openly.
