Everyone’s sports career comes to an end eventually; that’s just how life works. Whether stopping at middle school, high school, college or even professionally, the time as an athlete always to come to an end.

At the beginning of the season, athletes commonly set personal goals for themselves. Some reach them and some don’t. Setting goals is a way to push oneself when down or just a way to feel accomplished when it’s over. Even if one falls short of the goal, it can still be looked at as an accomplishment.

“I feel like I did accomplish some of my goals,” senior Stephen Frandsen, former varsity wrestler and football player, said. “My main goal was to make it down state, which I fell just short of junior and senior year. But this year, I really wasn’t expecting to make it out of regionals, but I did and I felt super accomplished.”

Many athletes would tell the younger players to always set high standards and push to be the best because when the time runs out, one can’t just go back to fix it.

During one’s last game, the anxiety doesn’t kick in until the game is about halfway over.  The athlete gets a feeling that he/she has never felt and by striving to make one last play.

“The whole game felt weird, like something was off,” senior Peter Tognarelli, former varsity football player, said. “I knew it was the last time I would ever play football again with all my teammates that I have played with forever, but it just didn’t seem that way. Everything was just weird.”

While the clock ticks down, the emotions and nerves increase and just takes over one’s body. Ten seconds left on the clock, looking around seeing the teammates that have been around for four years and seeing the fans, that have been to hell and back with you, cheering in the stands. Then it hits. This is the last time you will ever be on the field.

Every athlete reacts differently. There are the athletes that completely break down with a face full of tears, the ones that become completely silent and avoid others, or just the ones that are thankful that it’s over.

When it’s finally over, people have their regrets. Whether one looks back on a productive season that had a bad ending or just a poor season in general, that rush of sorrow, anger and blame all hit at once.

“I could have done better” or “if I would have done this..or that,” start taking over one’s thoughts. Then many start to wish they could go back and change how much offseason work was put in, how much focus was directed towards their sport, or even just to change one single play.

Once it’s over, there’s no going back.  

“If I could change anything it would be to practice more in the offseason because there is nothing worse than getting tired while playing,” senior Lucas Semitka, former varsity soccer player, said.

Some athletes have gone all four years of high school doing multiple sports. With offseason workouts, summer camps, practicing all week, and then game nights, the schedule of one’s life is about to drastically change.

“It will be way different without my sports schedule, even in times during the summer when I had to get up early in the morning for football and then go to wrestling camps at night,” Frandsen said. “I won’t be used to all of the free time.”

At the last team meeting or banquet, the seniors on the team usually get time to express their thoughts or can just say anything that comes to mind. One by one, when the seniors approach to the front of the room, all of the emotions that was felt at the end of the game come back. Whether one looks at this as an opportunity to express how much love is felt for the team or to give advice to the younger athletes is completely up to them.

“Younger athletes should put everything on the line because you never know when your last snap will be,” Tognarelli said. “It is amazing to be out there with all of your friends and teammates so just make sure to give it your all.”

With all of the regrets, heartbreaks and goals that were so close to being accomplished, there is still a lot to be proud of when it’s over. One will cherish the moments they spent with their teammates forever. Some will go to the same college, some will make plans together every weekend or, who knows, maybe one of them will be the best man at your wedding one day.

Athletes never realize when it’s truly over and til this day, some still can’t believe it. For every younger athlete that reads this, play your heart out. Even if you think you can’t keep going, push yourself. You can’t realize it now, but it will be worth it. It’s all fun and games until the last buzzer sounds.