Tears, pride, respect for Charger senior football and volleyball players

By Genna Hilgenbrink

An athlete’s collegiate career is gone in the blink of an eye and when the final home game approaches it is a reason for applause and congratulations.

This past weekend was Senior Night for both the Charger volleyball and football team. Seniors lined up along with their parents and loved ones to be recognized for their hard work and dedication for the past four years.

Mothers shed a tear and fathers held their head proudly as each senior’s accomplishments were announced. As they were read off, many of them were recognized for earning All-American, or All-GLIAC honors. This was truly a moment of glory for each individual senior before they played their last home game of the season.

The Charger volleyball team celebrated seven seniors, and the ceremony was separated over two days. On Friday October 28^th, Brogan Wells, Morgan Podkul, Ashlee Crowder, Amanda Geelhoed, and Apryl Schmucker were recognized. Lining up with their family members before the national anthem, one by one their accomplishments were acknowledged.

The ceremony started off with two-year captain, Brogan Wells followed by Morgan Podkul, who earned GLIAC All-Academic honors three times in her four years. Just after Morgan, was the two-time All American Ashlee Crowder, preceding a distinctive team leader Amanda Geelhoed. The ceremony concluded with Apryl Schmucker, an offensive leader who leaves Hillsdale ranking fourth in school history for career assists and sixth in service aces.

The evening continued with a 3-0 sweep of Ashland University to clinch the GLIAC South Division title.

The following day, the remaining seniors were recognized. Another two year captain started off the evening. Rachel VanderWall a GLIAC All-Academic stood proudly next to Clara Leutheuser as their accomplishments were read off. Clara, another athlete who has earned many honors in her four years, was a two time All American, winner of the GLIAC Commissioner’s Award and recipient of the President’s Scholar-Athlete Award.

Once again, following the ceremony the Chargers swept their opponent, Lake Erie College, 3-0.

Saturday was also Senior Night for the Charger football team. The team did not celebrate seven, but 17 graduating seniors. Although the mothers were still teary eyed, and the fathers still proud, the ceremony lasted substantially longer than that of the volleyball team in order to recognize all 17 players.

Hard work and dedication are what got these seniors to where they are today and, the ceremony recognized just that. Among the 17 seniors were eight members of the GLIAC All-Academic team, showing dedication not only as an athlete on the field but as a student in the classroom. 

Among the graduating seniors was Nick Hixson, a member of the All-GLIAC Second Team and two year captain. Also in the group was Nick Meinert, a four-year Charger basketball player who came back his fifth year to join the football team.

In the last home game of the season, the Charger Football Team beat Northwood University 14-10.

These athletes have been playing their sport for the majority of their lives. Their final home game can be emotional, but most importantly something to be proud of. Having endured their sport for many years, they have proven themselves capable of working hard, a skill that will later be necessary in their lives after Hillsdale.