Senior year, full of lasts. The last first day of high school, last class trips, and last homecoming have already flown past the seniors as they try to cherish every last moment in their high school years. However, fueled by senior spontaneity and the spirit of making the most out of the last year before graduation, many of them are experiencing many firsts as well, with five seniors joining the Pinewood eight-man football team for the first time: Regan Shee, Shay Cornyn, Bill Long, Jared Bowman, and Pedro Aldaco Amaya.
Prior to this year, senior Shay Cornyn had only played for the Pinewood basketball and track teams, but he decided to kick off his final year of high school sports by taking up football.
“I just thought, ‘You know what? I should just try new things since it’s my last year of high school,’” Cornyn said.
Senior Bill Long, previously a cross country athlete, decided to cross over to football for his last fall season of high school sports.
“I just wanted to be able to look back 10 years from now and say I tried everything I wanted to try and have no regrets,” Long said.
Long pointed out a major difference between cross country and football that he’s enjoyed so far.
“In cross country, it’s a sport where it’s just you against yourself,” Long said. “Football’s just much more of a team game, and that’s something I haven’t been able to experience before and something I love about football.”
Cornyn shared similar sentiments.
“The type of bond you have with your football teammates is not like any other sport at Pinewood,” Cornyn said.
With only a month or so left in the season, Cornyn said that he hopes everyone leaves this season with no regrets.
“I just hope that people put everything they have on the field,” Cornyn said. “Regardless of winning or losing, if everyone tries I feel like it’ll be a successful season.”
In recent years, many seniors have chosen to join football for the first time. Head Coach Yong Kim said many regretted not joining sooner.
“From my experience, first-year seniors always say, ‘I wish I’d done it earlier,’ after they’re done playing,” Kim said. “But still, I’m always happy they’re at least willing to try it senior year.”
Many people fear the physical and injury prone aspect of football, but Long has embraced those daunting aspects, sharing some words of wisdom to people considering joining.
“You gotta take risks in life,” Long said. “Just go out there, hit some people, and have fun doing it, too.”
