Skyhawks celebrate graduating athletes with Senior Night

Photo Courtesy of Stonehill Athletics

Senior Michael White poses with his mother on the baseball field.

By Bella Santoro

It’s been a long and exhausting year for everyone, especially for sports teams whose worlds changed drastically due to the pandemic. Despite having a shortened season or no season at all, Stonehill came together in an unprecedented time to shine light on the seniors who showed hard work and commitment on the field, the court, and the track throughout their four years.

Returning last August with hopes to compete, fall sports teams were devastated when their season that hadn’t even begun was canceled. But that didn’t stop Stonehill’s Athletic Department from figuring out how to still give athletes the season they deserved.

“Obviously going into this year, we knew things were going to be vastly different than years in the past, but I was really happy Stonehill let us participate in scrimmages,” senior Katie Lammando, a member of the women’s field hockey team said. “I appreciate everyone coming together and giving us an unforgettable senior day, especially to cap off a career here at Stonehill.”

Not only did fall sports get the chance to compete and celebrate the careers their seniors had, but both winter and spring sports seniors were able to play with their families cheering them on in the stands as they took on their last time playing in a Stonehill uniform.

Because winter sports are indoors, players and coaches were each allowed to bring two people to watch games in the Merkert Gymnasium, but that didn’t stop Stonehill from celebrating seniors with their family.

“I was really thankful that Stonehill was able to recognize us, seniors. It was definitely a very bittersweet moment considering the year and all, but I couldn’t be more appreciative of the last four years and the relationships and lessons I’ve learned while playing Stonehill volleyball,” Senior Sophia Poveda said. “It’s something I’ll always take with me past graduation and my heart is full knowing that.”

“Senior night during this crazy year was definitely memorable because it was nice knowing that my family got to see me play my last basketball game in Merkert Gymnasium,” Jenny Worden said.

Worden played her final game for Stonehill women’s basketball last month.

“I am really grateful I got to have one last home game with my team and celebrate my career I had here at Stonehill,” she said.

Fearing the possibility of having their season canceled for the second year in a row, spring sports were confirmed to have a regular season with Stonehill community members and family in the stands.

“Having a senior night felt great, but I felt like it carried a lot more weight this year since everything got taken away last year,” Softball senior Michelle Theilgard said. “It kind of was a reminder to not take things for granted, which made this season so much more impactful.”

Celebrating the seniors had a different twist than in years past, but the sentiment was the same it’s always been. All the athletes were super grateful to have a season or scrimmages to end their four years of hard work.

“I am really happy Stonehill let us participate in scrimmages because it gave us a nice ending to a very hectic year,” Lammando said. “It made all of the hard work that we did in the fall seem worth it and gave us a goal to work towards.”

Whether it was stepping onto WB Mason’s field, Paula Sullivan’s court, or the track, Stonehill’s seniors took in their last year as the most impactful with family in the stands and teammates by their sides. Stonehill’s community came together to shine light and hope on its student-athletes with confidence that next season will be back to normal.