Senior spring athletes

Elle Fleenor

Senior Elle Fleenor is a three-year member of the Warriorette tennis team.

“It really sucks not getting to have my senior tennis season. I feel like I’ve spent my entire high school career working towards my final season, and now, it’s been ripped away from all the seniors,” Fleenor said.

She said she misses spending time with my teammates and her coaches. “The game has allowed me to clear my mind. When I’m on the court, all I think about is the game. It gave my mind a break from stress from homework and other things that were stressing me out,” Fleenor said.

To cope with the loss of her senior season, she said she continues to workout.

“I’ve been trying to play as much as possible and work out like it was the season. My body is so used to always being active in the springtime, and it just feels weird to not play or exercise,” Fleenor said.

She offered advice to other underclassmen athletes about playing sports.

“Use your time in the sport to absorb more than just the sport. Make connections, make friendships, and make memories,” Fleenor said.

The Class of 2020 face the heartbreak and pain in the light of the recent Coronavirus (COVID-19) circumstances. One of the biggest heartaches for many seniors was the conJaiden Herald Co-Editor-in-Chief

Riley Pool

Senior Riley Pool served as captain and was catcher for the Warriorette Softball team.

Lauren Jeffries

“I am beyond disappointed that I wasn’t able to play my final year of the sport I have been playing since I was a little girl. It was extremely hard to be told that I would never take the field at Scottsburg again without really having a say in it,” Pool said. “Knowing that I would never be coached by my dad again or play for the school and team that I have grown so close to was so hard.” sequential cancellation of the spring senior sports season. Following the announcement of sport and school cancellations, athletes felt devastated and disappointed. For some, it was the loss of their final memories with their teammates; for others, the loss of the final chance to play on their home turf; and for several, the final chance to compete in a sport they love. In order to most accurately convey the emotional burden of these losses, The Booster wanted to tell the story through the eyes of four of our senior athletes.

Senior Lauren Jeffries competed as a mid-distance runner in the 4x400 meter relay, 800m and long jump for the girls track team.

“I’m very bummed about not having a senior season. I planned on breaking the 800m record this year, I was only five seconds away from beating it last year. Though I am bummed about not having a senior season, I am very proud of the accomplishments I made last year, I feel like I left track on a high note,” Jeffries said.

Jeffries said the thing she misses most about track is seeing and running with her friends during practices and meets.

“The biggest impact track has had on me is teaching me the concept of mind over matter. If your mind is telling you that you are tired and that you should give up then you will, but if your mind is telling you that you can do it and to not give up then you can do it. My coach always said, ‘Your mind will give up before your legs do.’ And that is very true,” Jeffries said.

Jeffries encourages underclassmen to savor these moments as they go by too fast. “I am coping with having no senior season by telling myself that even though I don’t have a senior season I still have six years of track accomplishments under my belt that I should be more than proud of,” Jeffries said.

Nicholas Sebastiao

Senior Nicholas Sebastiao recently signed his National Letter of Intent to continue his athletic and academic career at Montana State University Billings. Sebastiao signed his NLI via video as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. Sebastiao was also a spring sport athlete as he competed on Scottsburg’s first boys volleyball team.

“It was very different because I didn’t get to take a visit. I didn’t get to sign in front of all my friends and family. It sucked honestly because it’s that moment every athlete chases for years,” Sebastiao said. “We put in so much hard work, blood, sweat and tears just to sign our name on that piece of paper in front of everyone, but I didn’t get to do that. It really sucked. It meant a lot to sign, but you don’t get the whole feeling.”

Pool said the loss of her senior season was extremely sorrowful.

“The first few weeks were very rough. I cried nonstop and just didn’t really know what to do with myself,” Pool said.

Pool, an 11-year softball player, will continue her academic and athletic career at DePauw University post the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

“It has completely shaped me into the person I am today. I would not have the friends I have today if it wasn’t for softball, and I definitely wouldn’t have the future ahead of me that I do if it wasn’t for softball,” Pool said.

Pool said she encourages underclassmen to not take their time in their sport for granted and to enjoy it while they have the opportunity to do so.

“I want to thank my dad for teaching me absolutely everything I know from tee ball to college. He has been there for everything,” Pool said.

She also appreciates her teammates.

“I also want to thank Alyssa Stagnolia for being the best teammate, friend, and basically [a] sister that I’ve ever had. The memories we made together through the five years we played together will be memories I will cherish for the rest of my life,” Pool said.