Being a senior is something most kids cannot wait for. Finally, being at the top of the school after at least three years of being underclassman inpsires a sense of accomplishment. 

This year, many people have noticed the number of seniors who make up each athletic team. is large. For example, the Girls’ Varsity Soccer team is graduating eleven seniors, nine of whom are in the starting lineup. 

So, what are the pros and cons of a seniors-majority team?

Jake Wisniewski ‘16 came to Williston as a repeat junior. He says this is the most seniors he has ever seen on any basketball team for which he has been a part. The number of seniors on a team can sometimes lead to controversy and challenges for captains but, he says, “ I think it will be easier because there is a lot of great leadership.” 

Wisniewski says this team is different from any other team he has played. “What’s different about this team is how fast it took to learn how to play together. Everyone bought in early,” he notes. 

Wisniewski adds what he learned from seniors last year. “Give it all you have every night and don’t give up because Ryan Richmond [‘15] stuck it out and it paid off for him . . . he got a great offer from a school after the season was over. If he gave up he and didn’t continue to work hard and play for the team he wouldn’t have gotten it.”

Alexis Ryan ‘17 currently plays on a field hockey team that will be graduating eleven seniors, eight of whom are in the starting lineup. In the winter she will be playing on a hockey team that will be graduating eight seniors, too.  

Being a junior, Ryan notes how she is going to have to step up and be a leader next year. She said, “As for hockey, everyone knows our seniors this year our a very strong class to be graduating, and now that we are a target for other schools because we did so well last year.”

Ryan adds, “I know next year when it’s just me and Gabby Monaco, we will both really to have to step up not only as leaders on the ice, but also off. It will be a very young team and we will need to give everything we have to keep our reputation up.” 

Ryan notes what she has learned so far from these seniors, saying, “I learned that all have different personalities depending on which team they are on and I’ve watched them grow up over the years and become leaders. I love playing several sports with them and getting to spend as much time with them as I can before they graduate.”

Mr. Grant, Athletic Trainor at Williston shares his thoughts about the senior athletes. “A pro is certainly that you expect your teams to be very strong and you can see that the teams that we have a lot of seniors on, their strong teams.”

He continues, “But not every team that has a lot of seniors is going to be strong, case in point Girls Hockey last year, there was one senior and you had a very strong team.”

Mr. Grant also notes, “There will be a lot of shoes to fill next year, most of the juniors have already been on these teams so they already know what they are doing and there won’t be a huge adjustment there. I’m not concerned with how many seniors we lose year to year but how many top athletes.”

There are pros and cons to this senior class being noticeably large but Williston will find a way to fill the spots next year.