Senior Night is the last game of the season. It highlights the hardworking seniors and their achievements throughout the years. Families join together to support their players while the team joins one another for the last time this season. This is a bittersweet moment that these seniors will cherish forever.
(-What is one thing you will forever cherish from Olympia Football (team, coaches, games)?)
“One thing I will cherish from Olympia? I can’t answer that because I am going to cherish everything, from all the coaches, teammates, athletic trainers, team managers, the band, the teachers and staff support us. Everything is going to be cherished by me,” explained Xzion Mathis.
“One thing I will forever cherish from Olympia Football is Coach Gabe. He has always helped me and wanted me to be the best person I can be and I will most definitely miss him,” said Parker Moss.
“One thing I’ll forever cherish from Olympia Football is the opportunity I got to show what more I could bring to the game of football. I thank my teammates, coaches, and staff for ultimately pushing me everyday and helping me get a step closer to where I wanna be each and every day,” expressed Gregory Keaton III.
“I will forever cherish my teammates and the memories we made together and the fun we had along the way,” shared Henry Dorcelus.
“I will honestly cherish everything from Olympia Football. From the coaches to the booster club, to the players, they all hold a special place in my heart,” mentioned Malachi Brown.
“One thing I will forever cherish is the 2023-2024 season team. I made many friends and it was the best season in Olympia history,” claimed Nicholas Tobado.
“I will forever cherish everything. I love this school, the people I met and the connection I have with my teammates. I especially love Coach Gabe because he has always had my back no matter what.,” explained Xavier Wall.
This moment is big for our titans, they get to reflect back to their underclassmen years and the memories and people they have met throughout their journey.
(-What does this senior night mean to you?)
“One football memory that will stick with me has to be our very first win versus DP (Doctor Phillips High School). How could I forget the best feeling ever? To me this Senior Night is just a night for us seniors to really soak in the end and appreciate all the battles and struggles we’ve been through with our brothers,” explained Xzion Mathis.
“One football memory that will always stick with me is winning the District Championship [my] Junior year. This Senior Night means a lot to me. To be a Senior and having accomplished so much for Olympia’s football team in 4 years, finally being able to get my turn to lead and have fun my final year just feels amazing,” said Parker Moss.
“One football memory that will stick with me is my Freshman year getting my first pancake in board drills and everyone hyping me up afterwards.This Senior Night means the end of an era, I remember it like it was yesterday, my Freshman year hungry as ever trying to climb that depth chart no matter what problems or challenges I faced. This Senior Night to me symbolizes all the progress and hardships faced on the way here, it was all for a reason. Also with this being the last game of the regular season, the stakes are high because it could very well be my last game as a high school athlete if we don’t come up victorious. But ultimately it symbolizes the full circle of my high school football career,” expressed Gregory Keaton III.
“One memory that will always stick with me is my first time doing the County Fair. It was a practice day where all you do is conditioning and see how far your body can go.This Senior Night feels like bittersweet joy cause it makes me reflect back on how I started,” shared Henry Dorcelus.
“One memory that will always stick with me is when I had first gotten my new helmet and I showed everyone and they were surprised.This Senior Night means a lot because it is my last ride and I have been taught so much throughout these four years,” mentioned Malachi Brown.
“One football memory that will stick with me forever is winning against West Orange for “fence” and the 23-24 season District Championship. Senior Night to me means a final goodbye for all the seniors. Including all the athletic trainers, the band, and the cheerleaders. It is a final goodbye to the field and also the fans. Just a final goodbye in general and a moment to remember,” claimed Nicholas Tobado.
“One football memory that will stick with me was when I first met coach Gabe, I knew that I would be with him for 4 years. This Senior Night means a lot to me. I am going to miss everyone. I wish that it would never end, but I am going to make my teammates and coaches proud cause they made me a great man,” explained Xavier Wall.
As outsiders, football is just a competitive sport that excites us for Friday night lights. But to these Titans it’s more than just a game.
(-How has football helped you?)
“Football has helped me with everything in life and has now made a future for me, academically and physically,” said Parker Moss.
“Football has taught me things that go beyond the sport itself, things like accountability, taking on challenges head on. With these things it helped ultimately build my confidence and keep me level headed. Whenever I’m on that field I truly feel as if nothing else matters and it becomes my form of therapy,” expressed Gregory Keaton III.
“Football pushes me beyond my comfort zone and teaches me to keep going, no matter how tough things get,” shared Henry Dorcelus. Malachi Brown agrees with this and feels the same way.
“Football has helped me physically by working out consistently and keeping me in shape. Also, it helped me mentally by strengthening my thinking process,” claimed Nicholas Tobado.
“Football helped me grow as a person, control my anger, and created a second family for me,” explained Xavier Wall.
As Seniors they leave behind the underclassmen that they have played and made memories with. Being a Senior, they have gone through experiences that the underclassmen will soon go through. So as they leave, they leave advice with those underclassmen they connected with the most throughout this time.
(Who is one underclassmen that you have connected with most? What is some advice you want to give them for their upcoming senior year?)
“I feel like I connected well with all the O-Linemen but specifically Kevin Adams. He’s been on the team since I was a Sophomore and we have watched each other grow. It’s going to be sad leaving him. Also, another one has to be Mohammed, I didn’t have much time with him but I know he is going to be something. My advice for them next year is don’t take anything for granted and make the best out of every situation because you never know when it’s going to end but you know it will end,” explained Xzion Mathis.
“One underclassmen I connected with the most is Jacari Jackson. The most important advice I would give him is be the best player you can be and stop letting people get in your head and just be you,” said Parker Moss.
“One underclassmen I’ve connected with the most was Vinh Tran, something I want to tell him is that you are up next, keep your head down “in them books” and keep your head up on that field. As a Freshman you made a name for yourself in just your first year of high school football, this is just the beginning. I’m proud of the progress you made and I feel honored to be your mentor and to be in your corner. Keep doing your thing ‘Chop’,” said Gregory Keaton III.
“One underclassmen that I have connected with the most is Mohammed. A piece of advice I would give him is there is always room for improvement. Keep an open mind, listen to coaches, and be willing to make adjustments,” shared Henry Dorcelus.
“The one underclassmen that I have connected with the most is Kevin Adams. My advice for him is to keep grinding and stay disciplined because he is the future,” mentioned Malachi Brown.
“One underclassmen I have got really close with is Kevin Adams. He was my long snapper for 90% of the season, up until he got injured this year. The piece of advice I want to give him is don’t take any game for granted. Leave everything on the field every game,” claimed Nicholas Tobado.
“The underclassmen I have connected with the most is (Dante), I love that boy to death, we have made a bond nobody can break. A piece of advice I would give him is let all of it out on the field cause everything comes fast so don’t take anything for granted,” explained Xavier Wall.
As these seniors reflect back to their early football years, they think about all the struggles and accomplishments they have experienced. Through these achievements and rough patches these players have taken certain things for granted.
(-What is something you feel you took granted of throughout your years of football?)
“One thing I feel like I took for granted over these years is my time playing; those years I should’ve just enjoyed every moment because they’re never coming back,” explained Xzion Mathis.
“I feel that something I took for granted was time. Everything just went by so fast. I feel like I just started high school a year ago,” said Parker Moss.
“I feel as if I didn’t take in the small moments and just moments in general like I should’ve,” expressed Gregory Keaton III.
“One thing I realized I took for granted is the time and special moments with my teammates,” shared Henry Dorcelus.
“I feel like I took what my coaches said and taught me for granted,” mentioned Malachi Brown.
“One thing I feel like I took for granted was not joining football earlier. I started my Sophomore year at the end of the year for spring, I wish I started as a Freshman to join the recruiting process early and get scholarships” claimed Nicholas Tobado.
“Nothing. I feel like I took in everything and did everything to the best of my abilities,” explained Xavier Wall.
We congratulate these amazing seniors for their accomplishments throughout their years and wish them the best for their future endeavors.
