Senior year is a usually a year of accomplishment when it comes to students in sports. They’ve been working at it for four years and they are finally at their peak. Students in sports have to do a lot before they can actually participate: they need to get an orange card, which means they need a sports physical; proof of insurance; and participate in concussion and impact testing.
That being said, if a student has to get an orange card for an activity, it is assumed it is a sport. Some have been concerned as to whether or not this applies to Tigerettes and Cheerleading.
Last year, Hastings High School provided the opportunity for some seniors in specific sports to have a banner with their picture hung up in the school gym. For an athlete, a banner hung up in the gym for his or her sport is viewed as a great achievement. This year is the first year that the opportunity has been made available to all sports. All sports that is, but Tigerettes and Cheerleading.
“It was an idea brought up by volleyball player’s moms and this year has really just turned into an experiment year for it,” newly instated Activities Director, Tracy Douglas, said.
Senior students in sports were contacted in early August about the banner pictures. All students were contacted but students participating in Tigerettes and Cheerleading.
“Nobody ever mentioned it to us. We’ve been talking about it in practice and the girls that are only in Tigerettes [not another sport] feel left out,” said Tigerettes co-captain Elizabeth Opperman.
Douglas said they were not contacted because she just wasn’t sure if Tigerettes and Cheerleaders would be interested in this.
Because of the interest, Tigerettes and Cheerleaders did get their chance to take pictures for the senior sports banners on Friday August 23.
Senior cheerleader Cadee Brown was one of the students that was able to get her picture taken on the 23rd.
“It was really awesome that they decided to let us take the pictures too. I felt like I was a part of the school,” Brown said.
Between 65 and 70 senior athletes participated in taking senior sports banners this year. To prevent all the confusion for next year, Douglas plans on sending out flyers home to all senior athletes next summer.
