Senior Spotlight: Ewing’s Samantha Sebasto

As the spring sports season has been canceled, The Trentonian continues to recognize the girls lacrosse seniors that were denied their final season.

Samantha Sebasto has been a field hockey and lacrosse player at Ewing throughout her career, and despite battling injuries always rose to the occasion to be a solid team player, a leader and a positive influence on her teammates.

JO’G » How disappointing was it to have the last four months of your senior year altered?

SS » Having senior season stripped away from 2020 athletes was heartbreaking. This was the season that I had been looking forward to since freshmen year, and to have it ripped away is just so surreal.

Although I couldn’t play this season due to my shoulder injury, I couldn’t wait to see my teammates and play. All of the girls on the team worked so hard, including my coaches who I am lucky to have.

Everyone was excited for this season and put everything they had into practice every day. Something great happened every day, whether it was someone getting 50 catches on their non-dominant hand or a perfect play. Everyday there was a little victory and reassured everyone that it could only go up from here. To have to stop right when things were starting to fall into place was devastating, for everyone.

JO’G » What hopes and expectations did you have for this season?

SS» There were a lot of high hopes for this season, we had a lot of girls come out this year, as well as new coaches. The seniors hosted preseason practices twice a week for newbies and veterans to come and practice. The girls worked really hard each week and improved so much from the first practice.

Going into this season we didn’t expect a whole lot other than for all of the vets to help out coaches and new players, and for everyone to give 100%. However, there was a lot of hope for this season, the new players have so much potential. Right before our first scrimmage, and our last practice before school closed, the girls were really starting to understand the sport and the plays. I can’t wait to come back next year to see how far they’ve come and to see that hard work finally pay off.

JO’G » What life lessons have you learned from this pandemic?

SS » One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from this pandemic is that not everything is guaranteed so live your life to the absolute fullest and regret nothing.

JO’G » What are your plans for the fall?

SS » I will be attending Mercer County Community College in the fall to get my associates degree in biology.

JO’G » Which for do prefer, field hockey or lacrosse?

SS » Both sports have taught me so many lessons and have given me countless memories and opportunities. I started playing field hockey in the sixth grade and have been in love with the sport ever since, but my freshmen year I played lacrosse for the first time and it stole my heart.

Don’t get me wrong I love field hockey and always will, but the energy on the lacrosse field is indescribable. Ewing doesn’t have any lacrosse leagues or teams in middle school, you have to learn the sport quick, so any little victory that you or the team has is celebrated.

The adrenaline rush that goes through your body when you or a teammate scores or a perfect play is performed. There is nothing else like that feeling of knowing that all of that hard work is paying off. JO’G » If you were asked to give a speech at graduation what would your message be?

SS» If I was asked to speak at graduation I would tell my class; The last four years have brought us all memories and friendships that will last for years to come. I’ve learned a lot in the last four years about myself, and lessons that will stay with me for a lifetime.

To my fellow classmates, it has been an honor to go through this crazy time with every one of you. I can’t wait to see what the graduates of class of 2020 will accomplish in their futures, I know you all will do great things. Thank you EHS and class of 2020 for the memories, it was truly unforgettable.

JO’G » What is the one thing the world needs to know about Samantha Sebasto?

SS» I give my 100%, not even injuries keep me from giving my 100%, whether it be for myself or training others. I learned to focus on bettering myself in order to be the best player and captain I can be, both on and off the field.