As the spring sports season comes to a close, NDB senior athletes across beach volleyball, lacrosse, softball, swimming and track and field, are reflecting on both the end of the season as well as the end of their high school sports career.
For many of them, it marks the end of a chapter in their high school experience as they have spent long hours at practices and games, competed with both wins and losses and created friendships with teammates that will last beyond graduation.
Every senior student-athlete has their own story to share about playing a sport at NDB. Senior Jeanne Dubuc has been a member of the track and field team for all four of her years at the school. Reflecting on her experiences, she shared the impact of her first coach.
“My coach from freshman and sophomore years really got me into the sport and helped me improve throughout my first years,” said Dubuc.
She added a memory that will stay with her is “the 4×200 that I ran my sophomore year when our team broke the school record.”
Beyond competition, Dubuc emphasized the relationships that she has built with teammates. “The girls I’ve become friends with through the sport, and also the long meets and bonding with everyone” are what she says she will miss most.
Senior Gabrielle Goldfarb has spent years developing her skills and growing her passion for swimming.
“I’ve been swimming on and off since about third grade, but I really started taking it seriously in high school,” said Goldfarb.
She credits her coaches as having a major impact on her experience. “Scott [Ray] and [Wendy] Connolly have made the biggest impact on me. You can really tell how much they care about the team and the sport, and how much time and effort they put into everything they do,” she added.
For Goldfarb, the biggest highlights come from her personal growth and the connections she has built throughout the seasons.
“It’s been amazing to see how much everyone has grown as swimmers and as people,” said Goldfarb. “I’ve also changed a lot as a person because of my teammates, my coaches and the sport itself.”
This season, she was placed in a leadership role. “Being a senior has definitely changed my role because I’m a captain, which is super awesome,” she added.
Senior Amelia Breckenridge has been playing beach volleyball for three seasons. She shared that her “sister had the biggest impact on [her] because it was the only time [they] were able to play together.”
Over time, she created memories with her teammates, whom she will miss the most.
She has also been able to learn more life skills. “While playing beach volleyball, I learned time management because I did club volleyball at the same time,” said Breckenridge.
A common theme that athletes share is the sense of community and growth that comes from being a part of a team. While this part of their high school experience comes to an end, their dedication and motivation will continue on and will be remembered.
