As the 2021-2022 school year began, things were different than what they had been in the past. The class of 2025 was the first ever to experience post-COVID-19 “normal” high school. Masks weren’t required like the year before, and everyone seemed to be recovering. Sports started back up with brand new teams and freshmen didn’t know anything about how high school had been before or during the pandemic. Those freshmen, who were just beginning their high school athletic careers, are now the leaders of their teams in their last semester and seasons.
Emmitt Dickes is the only senior on the basketball team this year who started playing as a freshman and continued all the way through high school With that much experience comes witnessing a lot of change.
“I would say the practices are run a little differently, ‘cause, like, when things were going bad, like we weren’t playing well, Coach Feeken would, like, kind of just start doing his own thing,” Dickes said, “which was what made him a really good coach. But it’s just a little bit different mood.”
As many know, Coach Brad Feeken died last year after losing his tough battle with cancer. After losing someone who meant so much to the program, Dickes had to step up to become the underclassmen’s mentor and role model.
“Going into this year, I’m the only senior really that’s played all four years,” Dickes said, “so through the spring and through the summer, that was something that the coaches talked to me a lot about, was becoming more of a voice, more of a leader, and just bringing guys along because I’ve been here for four years, and they haven’t, and I know how things are supposed to be done.”
Senior Alex Hallgren has also been a major part of the swim team since his freshman year. Since Hallgren started with the squad, the swim team has seen a lot of growth in participation and excitement for the sport.
“I’d really say the introduction of the YMCA has helped a ton, and then also just the team’s become more successful,” Hallgren said. “Just with that success, people are hearing about it, and it’s just something that they want to do after hearing about it.”
As both seniors are in their final sports season of high school, both agree on how fast the time has gone by. 1460 days. 48 months. Four years. All gone in the blink of an eye.
“Freshman year, the season felt, like, long, but then each and every year, the seasons just feel like they go faster and faster,” Hallgren said. “I look back at freshman year, and it just feels like it was just yesterday.”
“He’s pretty important,” boys’ basketball Head Coach Bill Heard said of his senior player. Even though that’s only three words, it speaks to how experience makes a difference. While the seniors will be leaving after this year, they have all left a lasting impression and impact on their team and will leave big shoes for next year’s seniors to fill.
