Reflecting on Our Season's End

 

Well, the time has finally come. Our season is officially over. After many ups and downs throughout the year, the moment I had been dreading has arrived, and I wished it would never come. I've been on many teams and experienced many emotional endings, but none have been harder than this one. We finished the season with an impressive record of 14-4-4, along with our third straight NCAA tournament appearance. Our senior class will be missed greatly, as they have been a huge part of our success in recent years. Although we didn’t achieve our goal of winning a national championship, this season and this group of guys have given me memories that I will cherish forever.

Last year, we had no seniors on our team, but this year, we had 15. These players have dedicated so much to our program over the past four years. During their time at ONU, they helped us reach three straight NCAA tournament appearances, win the OAC tournament, and become OAC regular-season champions. The class of 2024 included many players who made up the majority of our starting lineup. They earned numerous OAC individual accolades, awards, and achievements. Maybe I’m a little biased, but I truly believe this class will go down as the most talented group in our program’s history!

After our season ended in the Round of 32 against Denison University on Sunday, I took some time to reflect on my favorite memories and the impact they've had on my life. Honestly, the things I will miss most about these guys are the simple moments I once took for granted. For example, I'll miss the time spent together on long bus rides, walking from our locker room to the field on game days, and weekends spent just hanging out. Some of these guys have become role models and are incredibly important to me. Like all the guys on my team, I see this class as the brothers I never had—except they’re just my older brothers.

As the old saying goes, all good things must come to an end. It may sound a bit cliché, but this saying is the only way to describe this reality. I will miss this senior class and cherish the last three years of memories with them forever, and I’m excited to create even more in the future. Looking ahead, the underclassmen and the rest of our team have a lot of stepping up to do. Personally, my teammates and I are more motivated than ever to bring a national championship back to ONU after coming up short this year. The future looks bright for us, and I’m beyond grateful that I made the decision three years ago to become a Polar Bear!