For senior athletes, the end of a season is more than just the last whistle; it’s the closing of a defining part of their high school experience. Through years of dedication, these athletes have grown not only in their sport but in who they are, reflecting on challenges, triumphs and the lasting impact they leave behind.

For many seniors, their journey began long before high school. 

“I started volleyball when I was 10,” said volleyball player Reghan Frazetta. “What really drew me in was how team-reliant it was. You can’t get anything done without relying on the girl next to you.”

Others started even earlier. Ellie Richards started playing soccer when she was four years old, highlighting how deeply rooted these sports can become in athletes’ lives.

Over the years, there have been countless small, unexpected moments that stick with athletes the most. 

“My most memorable moment was my freshman year when our track team made it to state, and we took the coldest ice baths I’ve ever been in. The laughing felt like it lasted forever, and I still talk about it to this day,” shared track sprinter Winston Simmons. 

However, the big win can also define a season.

“My most memorable moment as an athlete is getting our first win with Coach Watkins as Head Coach and dumping the Gatorade container on him,” said football player JP Pickren. 

Beyond the wins and losses, athletics teach lessons that extend far beyond the field. 

“Soccer has taught me how to keep composure when I’m tired or when we are losing,” said Richards. “It has also taught me to be so grateful to be healthy enough to play and be able to do what I love.”

For others, the growth is just as much mental as it is physical. 

“Swimming has helped teach me to believe in myself, to stop focusing on how others are swimming and to start focusing on my own race,” explained swimmer Erin Hopkins. 

Athletes also credit their sports with shaping their character. 

“Being an athlete has taught me to hold myself to high standards,” said Simmons. “It’s also taught me to love myself.”

“Being an athlete has shaped me to be more disciplined and driven and also taught me how to be a leader, not just on the field,” echoed Pickren. 

Alongside individual growth, many athletes emphasize that their teams are what truly define their experience. Through shared practices, hours in the gym, games and challenges, these bonds often become the most meaningful part of high school athletics. 

“My teammates mean a lot to me,” said basketball player RJ Zeising. “We win together and lose together, and there is a collective respect within the team because we have all worked very hard.”

Frazetta agrees, emphasizing how special the relationships she built are.

“I greatly value my teammates. It is so satisfying making connections with people I would have never met before, and it has helped me develop into a more social person,” she explained.

As these athletes wrap up their time at Pisgah, emotions run high.

“All that was going through my head during my last race was to sprint like nothing else mattered because it was my last time,” said Hopkins. “I wanted my relay team’s last time all together to be as special as it could be.”

Even though it’s time to say goodbye to Mount Pisgah Athletics, senior athletes leave behind more than stats or records. They leave a legacy of growth, resilience and connection, carrying lessons from both the small and big moments for the rest of their lives.