A Tale of Two Senior Nights

Sometimes it is hard to predict what is going to happen in a sporting event. That was the case in the last two senior nights at Lake Roosevelt High School. Volleyball and Football had their celebrations of graduating seniors, who in turn were playing in their last games at home for their respective sports.

The volleyball match was Thursday and to say it was an easy night would be an understatement. Five senior ladies stepped onto the hard wood for the last time in their Raider uniforms. They got off to a great start, and balls were being hit with such force. The first match was a back-and-forth battle and went to a tie breaker three or four times. The ladies ended up losing that one, but the table was set for an amazing evening of volleyball.

The second match was almost identical to the first, and the ladies came out on the losing end again. The night did not go the way the seniors, or the rest of the team, wanted it to go. But I noticed one thing that night. The girls did not hang their heads; they played with great heart and determination and were still swinging hard on the very last point. One senior told me afterward that they were proud of the way they had played that night and the whole season. The best part is, it is not over yet, either. They were scheduled for a match on Tuesday that would determine the near future for the team. Thanks, girls, for showing us heart and power hitting this year.

Now football, on the other hand, was something a little different. Low expectations coming into the season and the night had people feeling things a bit differently coming into Friday. Ten seniors were recognized before the game, and then the real fun started. With a freshman starting at QB, a swift start was evident. The offensive line for the Raiders and the defense was the story of the night. Coach Oliver had put a patchwork line together due to injuries and other issues. Wide receivers converted to linemen made the intricate run blocking a bit of a challenge. The defense, on the other hand, kept the game interesting until the Raiders found themselves with a lead at halftime and they kept it until the end. Senior Bubba Garcia may have had the most exciting moment of the night when he set an unofficial Raider record. He returned an interception 102 yards for a touchdown and ignited the Raider crowd for the rest of the night. Also, senior Chance Garvin moved to the wide receiver position, scored many times in the night, and had a few picks himself.

Both teams had ups and downs this season, but held it together. A big thank you must be said to the coaches this year: Kasey Garvin, Geary Oliver and Gary Darnold (cross country) did a remarkable job setting the new tone for Raider Nation. As every coach knows, you just cannot predict what is going to happen during a season. Injuries, coaching conflicts, bad luck and other unforeseen dilemmas will always come up and if the coaches are keen enough and open minded to what is different from the start of the season, things can happen that make it truly special.

The seniors for this season showed guts. They overcame big obstacles and never shied away from the challenges in front of them; that came directly from strong coaches and great support from the rest of us. You all had a great season, and we can’t wait to see what happens next.