At the Academy of the Holy Names, sports are more than just an after school activity, they are what we do that identifies who we are, our culture, and a second family that we’ve created. Every season, athletes commit months of training, practices, game days, long weekends, and hours in between school, homework, and social life. So when senior year comes, the moment every athlete looks forward to, and kind of fears, is Senior Night. 

This fall, Academy has already honored five sports teams with their traditional senior nights, volleyball, flag football, cross country, golf, swim and dive, and cheer. Each one looked different, each team had their own rituals and inside jokes, but the purpose behind every celebration was the same. Senior nights are to honor the girls who have put in the work, sacrificed so much time, and helped build the culture that the younger players will keep alive. 

“Senior night was so special, being on the flag football team for the second year it was ever a team and getting to be crowned as a captain was an honor. Being on this team since junior year has allowed me friendships I will never forget and I am honored to have had this experience,” said Madison Growcock (‘26). 

“Volleyball senior night was the highlight of my final season. It was definitely bittersweet, but I loved getting to celebrate the product and the hard work of the past four years and getting to share that with the other two seniors. I especially loved that our friends brought posters and flowers as well as speeches from the underclassmen, making me feel even more special as the night continued,” said Rafaella Rodriguez (‘26). 

Senior night is one of the most emotional traditions of the Academy because it symbolizes the passing of the torch, the traditions that the seniors once went through when they were freshman, now being passed to freshmen as they are now seniors. Freshman and sophomores come with posters and speeches, holding back tears, realizing how the impact of these seniors is unlike no other, and someday it will be their turn. Juniors look at the seniors and realize how fast four years fly. And the seniors, stand there on their home court, field, or lined up with their team, knowing it’s probably their last time playing in that uniform at home. 

“It was such a heartfelt moment to realize I’m finally a senior and it was wild to me how fast all 4 of my years flew by on this team. My favorite thing about these 4 years at academy was my high school season and I made the most memories ever, it’s so bittersweet that I’m officially a senior with my last season ever,” said Sara-Beth Grande (‘26). 

Athletics at Academy have always been part of what makes this school unique. It is a small campus that forms tight teams, and small teams that create tight bonds. The girls in volleyball, flag football, cross country, golf, swim and dive, and cheer this year all talked about the same kind of feeling. These teams have become their family, their safe place after stressful tests, hard days, and long weeks, their sisters that they have forever created a bond with. Senior night honors not just the performances, but the relationships, the memories, and the growth. 

For younger players, Senior Night is more than a goodbye, it is an inspiration. New athletes watch the poster, flowers, speeches, and tears, and it reminds them why they play. It shows them that commitment is worth it and the love of the sport is what connects all of them together. One day they’ll be the one walking with their families, getting handed flowers, and hugging their teammates in their final home game moment. 

For the seniors, it is a moment of closure, a chance to look back at freshman year and reflect on how much they’ve changed, and thank the people who have pushed them and supported them. Many of these girls have played with the same teammates for four, five, or even six years. Many have been coached by the same coaches since middle school. Senior Night gives them the space to appreciate what they’ve built, and to feel proud of the life and the team they are leaving behind. This is why tradition matters so much at the Academy. It is gratitude, legacy, and celebration all in one night. It is the school’s way of saying, we saw your hard work and your dedication. We watched you become leaders and we appreciate everything you gave to your sport and to your team. 

“I’m definitely going to miss my teammates and the fun moments we had playing golf these past years, but I feel so proud of how much our team has improved and I am so grateful for everything I’ve learned these past 4 years,” said Luciana Ospina (‘26). 

Senior Nights at Academy aren’t just about the uniforms and the trophies they’ve earned over the years. They are about the journey. They are about the girls who earned their place on their team. And this fall, our volleyball, flag football, cross country, golf, swim and dive, and cheer teams all proved again that this tradition is one of the most meaningful in our school culture. 

“Being on Jesuit cheer was so much fun, I made so many new friends over the past four years and being able to celebrate being the senior was so special. It’s just crazy how time flies. A few years ago we were watching the seniors walk down the field and now it’s our turn to be celebrated and I couldn’t be more grateful for the bond I’ve made with the girls around me,” said Rosemary Garon (‘26).