Welcome back to Beyond the Pitch! As we approach well past the halfway mark for the season, many programs, including mine, will be conducting a ceremonial Senior Day this year. Senior Day to me has always felt like something far off in the future, a day reserved for older players that I looked up to. But now it’s my turn, and that realization brings a mix of emotions.
There is excitement and pride, but also this sense of disbelief that my time here at the Academy of Notre Dame is winding down. A big part of my life has been with this team: the early practices, bus rides, laughs in the locker room, and the moments that don’t show up on a scoreboard. Each one has shaped me in ways I didn’t expect. Every season has taken a different journey, but the one constant has been the people beside me. The teammates who became my best friends, the coaches who pushed me, and the families who cheered no matter who was making the great hustle play or what the outcome was. While this is such an exciting time for seniors on this special day, it also serves as a reminder for everyone to appreciate how fast time moves and to celebrate every moment we get to play this game.
At the same time, I prefer not to get too lost in the nostalgia just yet. There is still so much to play for, and I want to make the most of the time I have left. My goal this week is simple: stay present. There is no doubt Senior Day will be emotional, but more than anything, I will see it as a celebration of the journey that I have been on with my fellow seniors and still have a few chapters to go before it is finished.
