The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Coaches honoring seniors with unique senior nights
The plight of the 2020 high school senior class has been well documented.
In an effort to honor those seniors, Morning Journal coverage area coaches are giving them the senior night treatment in unique ways.
Avon coach Ken Matuszak and his staff met with players May 31 at the Avon softball field, where they celebrated their eight seniors. The group celebrated with the usual senior night fare of pictures and bouquets, while also adding a more personal touch to the celebration.
“We give the seniors a bracelet, and it’s a positive bracelet and all of the coaches all pick out a word that exemplifies that player,” Matuszak said. “They can register it online and then they can give it to someone in their life that exemplifies that word and you pass it on to that next person, so you can watch it go across the country.”
The bracelets, from the “My Intent” program, featured words such as believe, focus and integrity. All words that are fitting for a senior class that dealt with so much adversity over their final year in high school.
Amherst’s three softball seniors had no idea Coach Lacey Reichert was making
trips to their houses with flowers and a banner in hand. But it’s a moment they won’t forget any time soon.
The Comets coach visited her seniors at their homes, gifting them with a bouquet, a gift bag and a banner with an action shot of each player.
“We presented the seniors as we would on senior night. We gave them a bouquet of flowers and took a picture with the senior and their parents, and
I think it went very well,” Reichert said. “They weren’t expecting it — they didn’t know about it, the parents knew — but the girls didn’t so that made it really special for them.
“It’s unfortunate that we had to do that, but at least it was something to honor those three.”
Similar gestures were made by Firelands athletic director Ty Stillman in early April, when he made the trek around Lorain county
to put 22 yard signs in the front lawns of spring sports seniors.
It’s all part of a welldeserved sendoff for the Class of 2020 that has been through so much.
Banquets, gifts and photos were certainly welcome, but most of all it was an opportunity for these seniors to experience something essential to any senior year:
A senior night with their teammates and family members.