The Clarke Central High School girls varsity soccer team poses after Senior Night on March 14. The Gladiators won 1-0 during a non-Region 8-AAAAA game against Morgan County High School, which CCHS head girls varsity soccer coach Jacob Baxley believes will positively impact the rest of the season. “I think (Senior Night) does help motivate the team. Not just the seniors, but it motivates (other) students, as well, since Senior Night is not the last game of the season,” Baxley said. “Since we don’t play Senior Night when we have a Region game, it does highlight the fact that the season is getting close to coming to an end and I think that’s good for motivating players because the season goes by so fast.” Photo by Isabelle Duncan
Seniors on the girls varsity soccer team were celebrated at Senior Night on March 14.
The Clarke Central High School girls varsity soccer team held Senior Night for the team, families, and school community to recognize seniors on March 14 after their non-Region 8-AAAAA home game against Morgan County High School.
In terms of the game, the Gladiators took home a 1-0 win. Girls varsity soccer wing Katherine Queen, a senior, was proud of the win, especially after the Gladiators’ 3-0 loss against MCHS last season.
“(The game) was good. We played Morgan County, which was a bit of a challenge. Normally, (for) Senior Nights we play an easier team, whereas this year (was) a bit of a harder team, but we (won) whereas last year we lost, so it definitely was good,” Queen said. “Also, going into playoffs, it was a good experience to be able to play a more challenging team to see what we need to work on and stuff like that.”
“It was definitely a little bit emotional for me, as I’ve been on the team for four years. A lot of the girls that I play with, I also played club with since we were like 8 or 9. So it’s definitely a community for me.”
— Katherine Queen,
Girls varsity soccer wing and senior
With 10 seniors on the team, CCHS head girls varsity soccer coach Jacob Baxley feels Senior Night was an important event to recognize their contributions to the team.
“Senior Night is a great tradition for any sport,” Baxley said. “It’s a great way to honor the seniors, to just have a night dedicated to them and just all their accomplishments and everything they’ve given to the program over their, usually four years for that team.”
As a senior, Queen appreciated the opportunity to be celebrated along with her fellow seniors.
Clarke Central High School girls varsity soccer center back Maggie Monk poses with her parents on Senior Night on March 14. Monk was glad to win 1-0 against Morgan County High School and have a support system in the crowd during the event. “It was an exciting night with a close win over Morgan County and walking out on the field alongside my family was amazing,” Monk said. “But, it was also great to see my friends supporting me in the stands with posters of my face, which made me feel loved.” Photo by Isabelle Duncan
“It was definitely a little bit emotional for me, as I’ve been on the team for four years. A lot of the girls that I play with, I also played club with since we were like 8 or 9. So it’s definitely a community for me and thinking about college next year, I won’t have that community,” Queen said. “It is a bit bittersweet, but it’s also good to celebrate our accomplishments like where we’re going to go to college and other things like that.”
Aside from the seniors, Baxley believes that the event was meaningful for the underclassmen, especially since the majority of the team will be different next season.
“(Senior Night is) always very special. It’s a very emotional night, too,” Baxley said. “A lot of the underclassmen girls were very emotional and they were crying, which just goes to show how much the seniors mean to the team and how much the underclassmen players will miss them when they’re gone next year.”
