Being a senior in high school already comes with its trials and tribulations, but for a student athlete in their senior year, the pressure is tenfold. Not only do they have to figure out a major for their college of choice, but they also have to determine where they can hone their skills for the next chapter of their athletic career all while juggling the demands of their senior season, balancing practices with schoolwork, senior year traditions and much more. They have to weigh scholarship, coaching styles, campus cultures and academics to make their decisions.
Jonah Williamson, Trinity High School quarterback, committed to Harvard University. Williamson not only had to prove himself on the field but also in the classroom to get into the prestigious institution. The commitment he’s displayed reflects both his athletic talent and dedication to academics.
Williamson comments, “I chose Harvard not only for its long-running and successful football program but also for its academics, which will help me maximize my potential for my future after college.”
Most student athletes not only have the pressure of picking a decent school for the remaining tenure of their adult life, but also when it is a D1 school, the tension is set to an extreme. Family expectation, fear of wrong choices and the fact that their decision could impact both their athletic and academic future are strong in their minds. But Williamson and Anthony Giorgi have taken the challenge head-on, with no looking back.
Giorgi committed to the United States Naval Academy (USNA) this past summer as a tight end for next fall.
Giorgi comments on his goals for his next chapter with his new team: “My main goals are to be a starter within the next two years, help the team to the best of my ability and hopefully make it to the playoffs.”
While moving on to something new always comes with its set of challenges, fears and goodbyes, both Giorgi and Williamson comment on their last four years at Trinity High School with a deep sense of gratitude. They not only speak about the big moments in games or on the field but also about the countless hours spent with teammates and coaches who have pushed them every day to be a better version of themselves, giving credit to the people who have molded them into not only the players they’ve become but also the men seen today.
Williamson says, “Knause in particular has always been a huge influence. He helped me go from baseball to football for college. He’s really a great guy to get knowledge from, not only for sports but everyday advice too.”
Giorgi follows up with, “This school has not only gotten to see me grow into and mold me into the player I am today, but the person too.”
Senior year for every student all across the country is filled with sad goodbyes, bittersweet new beginnings and anxious decision-making, but those carrying on as student athletes into their collegiate careers truly understand the definition of pressure, and they still choose to put their heads down and make where they come from as proud as possible.
