The feeling of moving on to new and exciting things is prevalent in senior athletes at this time of year, with the last seasons of the 2023-2024 school year coming to a close. This feeling, combined with the uncertainty of leaving a team that has been a comforting constant for four years, is the bittersweet reality for many of Miami Palmetto Senior High’s senior athletes. With new memories to be made wherever they end up after their last exit through the gates of MPSH, we asked athletes to reflect on their most treasured moments of their seasons.
For some seniors, their standout moment was one in which their talent and dedication was truly able to shine. In the case of Varsity Girls’ Basketball star Kailey Gonzalez-Quevedo, beating Ferguson Senior High in district semi-finals was a highlight of the season, with the team playing neck and neck all game and hitting a buzzer beater to win. However, another favorite moment of hers was playing North Miami Senior High, when she went three-for-three at the three point line and played what she says was one of the best games of her season.
Varsity Golf Captain Daniel Weiner also reflects on one of his standout performances as a highlight of his season, with his talents truly on display at the Greater Miami Athletic Conference match.
“It was at the Redlands Golf and Country Club where on the first hole I had almost holed out on my second shot as it rolled right over the pin,” Weiner said. “It was overall just a nice day and the weather was perfect. I absolutely loved the day and played some solid golf.”
Similar to Weiner and Gonzalez-Quevedo, part-time Varsity Boys’ Soccer captain Adrian Rodriguez’s favorite memory from his senior season was a game that truly displayed the talent and skill he has achieved after three years on the varsity team. As a center back, opportunities to score are limited for the defender. However, with two goals in a game against Terra Environmental Research Institute, Rodriguez was able to lead the team to a 4-0 victory, their fifth win in a row.
Many seniors, however, have one thing in common: the highlight of their senior season as their senior game. For most of MPSH’s teams, an entire night dedicated to the senior players takes place near the end of the regular season, honoring the players for their endless talent, dedication and mentorship. The goal of these games is to show as much love as possible in the stands, on the sideline and on the court or field, and for senior players like Varsity Girls’ Soccer captain Catherine Green, saying this goal has been achieved would be an understatement.
“One of my favorite games and experiences this year was the senior game. The way all the girls on the team worked so hard to make it special for us seniors made us feel so loved, and we all had fun on the field together while playing a great game,” Green said.
The senior game was also a standout experience for Varsity Football linebacker Gavin Mortazavi, who reflected on the incredible experience and looks forward to starting the new chapter of his football career after an amazing send-off.
“The favorite moment for me personally was definitely senior night. [Football is] something that’s been a part of my life since I was six years old, and I’ve always been looking up to the final season of high school,” Mortazavi said. “Just walking through the crowd, seeing all their faces, my mom crying, that was definitely a big moment. And now I’m gonna be able to fulfill my dream and play in college.”
The senior game was also a highlight of Varsity Boys’ Lacrosse player Alastair Page’s senior season, not only because of the love from fans and his fellow players, but because he got to try a position wildly different from his usual role as a midfielder: goalie. With two saves, Page’s turn at being goalie for a half was a standout moment for him, taking advantage of his last chances to live his final MPSH lacrosse season to the fullest.
For standout and full-time Varsity Girls’ Lacrosse goalie Sara Kramer, winning the District championship was the highlight of the season on a personal and team-wide level. After an intense game against Olympic Heights that ended with a win of 11-9, everyone ran up to her and celebrated as a team. According to Kramer, it was a team win through and through, and she could not love her teammates more.
Sharing the love for her teammates, Varsity Badminton player Penelope Murray reflected on her time with her best friend and doubles partner Isabella Reale as the absolute highlight of her season. More specifically, the moment they walked off the stage at GMACs after winning their championship game against their biggest rivals in girls’ doubles, Varela Senior High, with scores of 17-21, 21-18 and 21-14. With a three-peat of championship wins and an undefeated record under their belts, the partners shared a bittersweet and emotional moment walking off the stage together for the last time.
“Everything up until the moment the medals went around our necks was a blur to me. We were so focused on securing the win that this realization kind of hit us in the face once we heard our names called,” Murray said. “As we walked off that stage we began to get emotional. We realized that we would never play another match together since we’re going to different colleges. At that point, as we tearfully embraced, I realized that our wins and record meant nothing compared to what it meant getting to play alongside my best friend. Getting to spend these last three years with her on the court side by side was the best part of my whole high-school career, and I couldn’t be more grateful.
