At the last home football game on Friday, Nov. 1, seniors from varsity football, cheer, poms and marching band were highlighted for their years of drive and dedication.
The final home game contributed to a strong season for the football team, and varsity football coach Ivan Hicks said he is proud of all of their progress and growth. “I believe they did extremely well. They worked together from the first practice until the present, no matter how things were going,” Hicks said.
This sentiment is shared by both the coach and the players, with plenty of personal successes and challenges. “For me, the season also had ups and downs. As it was my first year playing, there were times that I would start or other times when I would go in later in the game on defense. However, I’ve always been the kicker as well for kickoffs and sometimes punting and field goals,” senior Matthew Xu said.
Throughout the season, the team made memories together, especially through bonding over their shared accomplishments. “My fondest memory from this season was winning against Gaithersburg in overtime 17-14 while blocking for the game-winning field goal,” Xu said.
These memories have led to long-lasting friendships among the team, and the seniors attribute their remarkable season to their teammates. “The season was a great time and I made many friends along the way. I am grateful for everyone that made the season memorable, and every senior had a part in my football career that made it memorable,” Xu said.
In addition to the football team, the marching band has also had a successful season, winning second place at their state competition. “I’m so proud of how far everyone has come this season. There’s been so much improvement, especially from the freshmen, and everyone’s worked so hard,” senior Sana Majmudar said.
The band’s final performance at their state competition was memorable for the seniors as it marked their last marching band season of high school. “My favorite memory from this season was performing at states and going up for awards with all of my fellow seniors. We were all so proud of our performance and all the work we had put in up to that point,” Majmudar said.
Though the marching band season ended with their state competition, the football season is currently ongoing with the team’s win against Magruder and their upcoming game against Perry Hall in the state quarterfinals. “I’m very proud of the team, especially the seniors for their dedication and hard work for the last four years,” Hicks said.
