Fall Athletics in Leonia
Photo Credit Mina Trimarchi ’24
Every year in Leonia fall athletic teams begin practicing and preparing for their upcoming season during the summer. For some student athletes this will be their last year playing with Leonia High School. Many students start their year with a fall sport whether it is women’s volleyball, womens or mens soccer, girls tennis, or cross country. Participating in a sport takes time, patience, and hard work from both sides of the team, whether you’re a senior, underclassmen, or a coach. Focusing on a coach’s perspective, Coach Muller had some wonderful feedback regarding the effort it takes in order for a season to be successful. “Making sure your team is playing strong teams that challenge them, but teams that also allow them to develop and get better.” I think what Coach Muller expressed was quite helpful as a student athlete myself as it reflects on the hard work a coach does in order to see his team succeed.
Being a senior athlete has shown me not only to appreciate every little thing regarding my sport, but also throughout the school. It has pushed me and many other senior athletes such as Regan Lynch and Siena DeLeon to become more involved in school activities and sporting events. Siena DeLeon mentions “It is terrifying knowing that this is my last season, knowing not everyone or even no one in my team is going to move up to play college soccer.” I think all senior athletes can relate to this whether they are content with them playing their last year or have bittersweet feelings towards the subject.
For seniors, their different senior nights are all coming up within the month of October. With the date being so close, it gives seniors a chance to reflect on their high school sporting careers. Regan Lynch states, “Being a student athlete at LHS, has helped me become more confident within myself and the skills that I have to offer. It has also helped me create lifelong friendships which I think is important because it teaches you life skills.”
When becoming involved in a Leonia High School sport you create a bond with coaches, staff, and teammates from different grades. From a students perspective, Siena DeLeon wants underclassmen athletes to “cherish the years you have left, try to give it your all and show up to everything you can. High school sports are very fulfilling in your life, they occupy a lot of space, but they give you a lot of close bonds and a lot of fond memories.”
While focusing on their own season, Coach Muller believes that senior athletes should try to also mentor the underclassmen as they do not know much about the way Leonia High School athletics work. He says this leaves a better bond and culture between the team, not only during the time you are on it, but also for the people who join the team in the future. From a student’s perspective on senior night and fall athletics in Leonia High School, students show tremendous pride and school spirit when showing up for sport events and particularly senior night. Emily Gelbard and Marie Boutrous show their spirit in many ways such as, “cheering for my friends, supporting my school team, wearing Leonia’s school colors or theme of the night, and creating a poster for the senior player we’re supporting.” All of these ideas are such creative ways to bring Leonia pride to the fall athletics senior nights. Catch your favorite senior athletes on the dates below in order to honor their hard work throughout their years on the team.
Fall Athletics Senior Nights:
Women’s Volleyball: October 24th, 2023
Boys Soccer: October 23th, 2023
Boys Football: Thursday, September 28th.
Keep an eye out for Women’s Soccer Senior Night!
