Lawrenceville’s Senior Day Send-Off Spectacle

          As their final year at Lawrenceville nears the end, V Formers slowly say goodbye to the communities they have helped build and maintain at school. Before leaving the school altogether, they perform in their last shows, publish their last issues, and play in their last athletic home games and meets. These events are often commemorated with special speeches and rituals. At the end of each term, V Formers playing an interscholastic sport are honored through “senior days.” These days commemorate the last home competition of the season and the last chance for V Formers to play their sports in front of the Lawrenceville community. 

          Each sport has its own way of celebrating these important days. The Fencing Team makes a unique tunnel of blades (two lines are formed with swords pointed towards the ceiling,) water polo players high five their teammates down a line, and every Senior Day celebration almost always includes posters. 

          “Running through the blade tunnel was surreal. It is definitely something that I am not going to forget. Getting my own poster was a full circle moment because I used to be the one who made the posters, and now I was the one receiving a poster,” described Alyssa Roberts ’24, the Girls’ Fencing Team Captain. 

          The posters give underformers the chance to show their appreciation for the V Formers on the team through little notes and drawings. “It is fun seeing what the juniors come up with for our posters,” noted Vivian Teeley ’24, a co-captain of the Girls’ Water Polo Team. Dean of Athletics Tripp Welborne H’58 P’21’24 or Director of Athletics Nicole Stock also act as announcers at senior days, reading off the names of those graduating and congratulating them on their hard work. 

          “It was a little bit bittersweet. On one hand we were getting honored, but I also knew we were leaving the team. I had always seen senior days, but it felt really weird to be the one running through the tunnel of swords and getting the flowers,” stated Jonathan Antonov ’24, the Boys’ Fencing Team captain.

          Because senior days are a way of saying goodbye and good luck to V Formers, it often comes with overwhelming emotions. “Senior day was a bit emotional, knowing that was my last time fencing for Lawrenceville excluding states. It felt like passing on the torch. It was a good day to get a win and know that the team was in good hands for next year,” mentioned Antonov. The day brings up fond memories of time spent on the team and big triumphs. For Antonov, the day is spent remembering big comebacks and his first bout, while Teeley thinks of game winning shots in overtime and the knowledge that people put enough trust in her to make her captain. Lastly, for Roberts, reminiscing on time spent growing with her teammates and coaches has been especially sentimental. “The memories I made would not [have been] possible without the coaches and my teammates, who helped me through difficult times and who I celebrated with,” she stated. Saying goodbye to your team is often difficult. While students may continue to play your sport after leaving Lawrenceville, they will not be playing with the same teammates and coaches. “As a team, we mesh really well together. I am going to miss being in an environment where people can both have fun and work hard. It’s a really great experience,” noted Teeley.

          Wherever they go, Lawrenceville students carry little pieces of their teams with them through the lessons they learned. “I know that being on the team has taught me a lot. I learned a lot about leadership and working as a team, and I am happy that I got to have that experience,” stated Roberts. Similarly, V Formers often have an impact on the underformers on the team and the coaches. 

          Like Teeley said, “senior day makes you realize that all good things come to an end, but that is what makes them special.”