Senior year is full of “lasts”: last football game, last homecoming, last final exams, and last day. 

But for some seniors at Dallastown, they wanted to make their senior year as memorable as possible by experiencing a “first,” joining a brand new sport.

This year, seniors Jacklyn Kinkella and Akira Sorrell have both decided to give girls’ lacrosse a try.

“The season is going very well. I truly love lacrosse, and I honestly wish I had started it sooner. I was hesitant to start something new in my senior year because I was worried about what others might think, but my teammates have been incredibly supportive,” Sorrell said.

Both of the girls have their “main” sport: Sorrell participates in cheerleading, and Kinkella plays soccer, but that didn’t stop them from trying something new. 

“Many of my friends played lacrosse, so I started attending their games to support them. Through that, I became really interested in the competitiveness and overall energy of the sport. I would say the commitment level is high, but I’m used to being part of a year-round sport with intense daily practices,” Sorrell said.

Joining a new sport has been shown to have many social and physical benefits, and many seniors decide to start something new because they want to make the most out of their high school experience. 

As a senior, it can also help combat burnout by providing a break from the stress of your “main” sport, and offering a fun and low-stress environment to try something new.

“I know it’s not something I’m going to continue into college, so I have fun and don’t worry too much when I mess up,” Kinkella said.

Along with these two, senior Katie Ratchford utilized her gymnastics skills to start up diving.

“It was definitely a big time commitment, especially since the practices were later in the evening and I had to drive to Dover, but it was definitely worth it. I got to meet so many new people and experience so many things that I wouldn’t have otherwise, and I made a lot of progress in just a few months.”

Ratchford had a strong showing in her first diving season, and even making it to the District III meet, which is extremely impressive for it being her first year on the team.

Senior Ivana Thach was the one to convince Ratchford to try diving with her. 

“I’m so glad that Katie decided to join diving, especially because I was the only one doing it for a while. I think she’s improved so much and has had so much fun meeting all of the swimmers and divers!”

When asked about why it’s beneficial for seniors to join a new sport, Sorrell remarked:

“I think it’s valuable for seniors to try something new, especially in their final year. You can’t let others’ opinions hold you back from something you’re interested in, and you might regret it if you do.”