An abnormal lack of senior athletes on certain fall sports teams has caused confusion and differences of opinion among the Ritenour population, with some thinking it is normal and something to ignore, while others believe there may be something deeper to it.
Athletic Director Drew Lohnes explained that there has been a pattern of seniors quitting their sports during their senior year.
“That happens each year. Sometimes it is just that their senior year is jam-packed with a lot of other stuff they want to do, and because sports take up a lot of their time. It is a daily commitment, so they just make the decision not to play their senior year,” Lohnes said.
According to Lohnes the senior class is normally the smallest athletic class.
“It’s just the fact that if they don’t think that they’re going to be getting quality playing time, they decide to work, get involved in other activities, or anything else they want to cram in before they graduate,” Lohnes said. “I still think it’s rare that somebody would play three years and then not play their senior year. It happens, but I do not think that number has increased this year. You always have more of the lower-classmen on your program, just because of attrition.”
One team that was affected by a lack of seniors was girls volleyball, which did not have any seniors come out for their final season. According to varsity girls volleyball coach Ellen Kim, many girls made time during the summer to participate in practices and conditioning, including current seniors.
“Our athletes generally show up. We had 20 or more in the weight room all summer, and 50 showing up for camp/practices,” Kim said. “The weight room was a mix of 9th – 11th graders, We had a solid group of juniors showing up, being leaders, and pushing everyone.”
Kim feels that this season is an abnormal occurrence and just a reflection of this particular group of seniors.
“It has never happened before. Over the last 20 years, I would guess maybe 4-5 seniors did not play their senior year, except for this year. This year was definitely an anomaly,” Kim stated, “I feel like people in general make time for what is most important to them. If you want it, you will find a way; if you do not, you will find an excuse. Everyone’s priorities are not the same.”
Head coach of varsity boys football, Yarmon Kirksey, had a difference of opinion.
“Actually, in the past couple of years, I have scaled down off-season training so those guys can get jobs and do other things they want to do,” Kirksey stated.
Kirksey thinks that the lack of seniors on sports teams could be a trend in the future, but not in football necessarily.
“They probably think, ‘I am not going to play outside of high school, so why am I going to play my senior year? I can focus on school or work or something like that.’ But a lot of the guys in our program, the majority of them, are trying to go to college. That is a critical time for them to get scholarships. For a lot of them, that is their way of getting their school paid for,” Kirksey said
Maggie Kunshek, a senior athlete at Ritenour, has been playing golf all four years and details her experience as a golfer.
“The seniors on my team, including myself, all started their freshman year, so they have just kind of stuck it out,” Kunshek states, “I have never considered quitting. I balance (my responsibilities and being an athlete), just trying to stay focused.”
Kunshek said playing golf and being on the team actually helps her with her stress rather than adding to it.
“When I come to practice, I kind of let out all the anxiety I have about school or anything I’m struggling with, so having that time to just relieve the stress is helpful to maintain and cope with the stress of being a student athlete,” Kunshek said. “I feel really close to my teammates. We do a lot together, and it is nice to go to practice and get to be myself.”
Senior Dorian Koffi points out the ups and downs that come with being a student athlete; more specifically, how difficult it is for student athletes to prepare for and participate in sports as a senior.
“(I did not come back to football because) I knew I wasn’t going to make it on the collegiate level. I made the best decision for me and tried to go to work and make some money to help my mother with the bills,” Koffi stated.
Koffi acknowledged how much there is to miss about being a student athlete, even though he does not regret it and feels that this was the best decision for him.
“I realized I missed being there with my brothers, even though most days we would run, but after that there is team bonding experience. I also miss the coaches, things we did at practice, the team meetings, but when I tried to go back, it was a little too late. I never regret any decisions I ever made in life.”
Koffi describes his opinion about senior athletes feeling pressure to continue playing into their senior year, regardless of whether they want to deep down or not.
“Other than the nostalgia that comes with it, if you were good in high school you feel the pressure to go play on the collegiate level and if it doesn’t turn out well, you feel like you lost in life, but it is never over for you,” Koffi expressed. “One thing our coaches always said is there is nothing wrong with being a great high school football player even if you don’t make it on the collegiate level. So just cherish those moments. If you don’t make it on the collegiate level, whoop-dee-doo, just keep going and keep being great.”
