This year is different for MV fall athletes, but their sports’ everlasting impact on them is permanent.
Melaina Zedalis, ‘25 star senior athlete in basketball and volleyball describes how sports have impacted her.
“They have given me a place to escape from school and the world, brought joy to my life.”
Looking forward, the future can create many opportunities for senior athletes, especially for colleges; providing scholarships to reduce the cost of valuable education.
Zedalis added, “I plan to play basketball in college”, showing her tenacity and determination toward athletics on another level.
As seniors eventually move on from high school, another new generation moves in; another star senior athlete Malakai Mays has played sports since he was four, and his advice is indispensable.
“There is no I in team, learn to communicate with others,” Mays stated.
These athletes have gained so much knowledge over time; allowing them to develop their own characters, and now they can share it with the freshmen.
“Try as many [sports] as possible because you might enjoy it so much…,” Liam Asbery ‘25 said.
Asbery has been playing tennis and soccer for a very long time.
“Nerve-racking because I came from Woodlawn so with no friends,” Asbery said.
Now, Asbery is popular and quite the extrovert; proving that sports can change one’s life. Speaking of others, people in your life can help you indefinitely.
“My parents and my basketball coaches, they have all supported me 24/7,” Zedalis said.
Even when seniors leave, the coaches stay for the next season; developing the next generation of athletes.
“Bittersweet, they have done a good job; improved a lot; sad!”, Mrs. Crews, volleyball coach, stated.
This was Mrs. Crews’ first volleyball team since being at MV, learning many lessons over time in particular, “When to prioritize the kid over volleyball”, Mrs. Crews said.
Showing compassion towards her players demonstrating as more like a family than just players. Another coach, Coach Mings, of the MV football team, has been an influential person in the athletics community.
“The biggest thing we want them to take away from this is the feelings of being a part of a team, sacrifice, and learning how to be a family,” Coach Mings stated.
