In recognition for the contributions that senior athletes have made to the fall sports programs over the last four years, each of NKHS’s nine fall sports teams will hold a “senior night” ceremony this month.

About 75 members of the senior class are participating in a fall sport this year, and many of them have played the same sport throughout their high school career.

With the help of coaches, juniors often coordinate the senior night ceremonies.

Cross country:

This year, 18 seniors are participating in cross country. The captains on the boys’ cross country team are seniors Alex Bowen, Joe Craven, and Mike Toolin, as well as junior Nick Musumeci. On the girls’ cross country team, seniors Abby Cleland, Allie Riley, and Isabella Perrin are captains. Junior Kate Spitalnic is also a captain.

Cross country’s senior night will happen on Sun., Oct. 19 at 6 p.m. at NKHS. The team members will be completing a relay race known as the EKIDEN relay.

According to junior Kate Spitalnic, the cross country team also “gathers together at a pasta party,” where each junior presents a speech about one of the seniors and gives the seniors gifts.

Mr. Paul Tetreault, Mr. Brian McNeiece, and Ms. Katie Fleet are the cross country coaches. As of press time, the boys’ cross country team has had 9 wins and 1 loss. The girls’ cross country team is currently undefeated, with 9 wins and 0 losses.

Field hockey:

As of press time, the field hockey team has won 7 games, lost 5 games, and tied 1 game so far this season.

Emma Simmons and Molly Feid, both seniors, are captains of this year’s varsity team. Four other seniors also play for the team. Ms. Julie Maguire is head coach, Mrs. Kris Graham is an assistant coach, and Ms. Sid Culbertson and Ms. Ashley Yanek are junior varsity (JV) coaches.

Field hockey’s senior night game will take place on Mon., Oct. 13 at 6:30 p.m. in the NKHS stadium.

According to junior Andrea Luisi, the juniors commemorate the seniors by making posters and decorating the stadium. The seniors also stand on the field with their parents before the game while the juniors give speeches about them and present gifts.

Football:

The NK football team has won 5 games and lost 0 games this season, as of press time.

Captains Matt Madoian, David Poirier, and Bob Hanley are among the 15 seniors on the team this year. Mr. Joe Gilmartin is head coach, and assistant coaches are Mr. Fran Dempsey, Mr. Bill Piva, Mr. Matt Miller, and Mr. Dave Giorgi. Mr. Frank Fusco coaches freshman football.

NK football’s senior night game will be held on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27, at 10 a.m. in the NKHS stadium. NK will play South Kingstown.

According to junior Zach Roy, the seniors on the football team receive a framed picture of themselves on the field. Their names are also announced during the game. In addition, the team holds a dinner in the school cafeteria.

Boys’ soccer:

Ten seniors are playing on the boys’ varsity soccer team this year, including captains Preston Lind and Quintin Mulligan. Mr. Kyle Froberg is head coach, and Mr. Paul Fanning is assistant coach.

The boys’ soccer senior night game will occur on Thurs., Oct. 23 at 6:30 p.m. in the NKHS stadium. They will be playing against East Greenwich.

The seniors are recognized at half-time, junior Alex Overly said. “The parents come out on the field with their kids,” and the players are introduced and present flowers to their moms. “It’s generally a five- to ten-minute ceremony,” he said.

At the time the paper went to print, varsity soccer had won 7 games and lost 3 games during the season.

Girls’ soccer:

Seniors Sarah Andrews, Ansley Ostiguy, and Amanda Farnsworth are the only three seniors on the girls’ varsity soccer team this year. Along with Andrews, juniors Sienna Mobley and Jenny Roth are captains. Mr. Mark D’Arezzo is head coach, and Mr. Richard Storti is assistant coach.

As of press time, the team has had 2 wins, 5 losses, and 7 ties so far this season.

The senior night game will be held on Wed., Oct. 22 at 6:30 p.m. in the NKHS stadium. North Kingstown will play the Prout School.

According to junior Jessy Primiano, the juniors make posters for the seniors, present speeches, and announce the names of the seniors over the intercom at the game.

“[The seniors] have been in the program for four years and they’ve worked hard, so we should honor that,” Primiano said.

Girls’ tennis:

As of press time, the girls’ varsity tennis team has won 9 matches and lost 3 matches so far this season.

Taylor Masi and Grace Callahan, both seniors, are the captains of the varsity tennis team. Due to the limited number of slots available on varsity, seniors also play on the junior varsity team. On JV, seniors Rachel Kantor and Sarah Murray are captains. Mr. Tim O’Neill coaches the girls’ varsity tennis team, and Mr. Dick Ernst coaches the JV team.

The varsity and junior varsity teams practice at different times and hold different senior night matches. Varsity’s senior night match will be held on Thurs., Oct. 9 at 4 p.m. on the school tennis courts, and JV’s last home game already took place.

According to juniors Katie Mancieri, Chantrea Sanford, and Kate Lederer, who play on the junior varsity team, the JV players honor the seniors by making an announcement at the match and presenting them with flowers.

On varsity, players generally “write the names of the seniors on the pavement in chalk,” Mancieri said, as well as make an announcement. The varsity team also celebrates with pizza, flowers, and balloons, the three added.

Girls’ volleyball:

Captains Jojo Harrison, Paige Olausen, and Emma Enteado are among the group of seniors on the girls’ volleyball team this year. Ms. Victoria Tefft coaches the varsity squad, and Mr. Casey Barlow coaches junior varsity.

When The Current Wave went to print, varsity had won 5 matches and lost 6 matches during the season.

The team’s senior night match will be held on Thurs., Oct. 30 at 6:30 p.m. in the gymnasium. They will be playing Classical High School.

Like most other teams, the varsity volleyball team decorates the gym and Tefft introduces the senior players and their parents, said junior Giuliana Mancini. The juniors also give the seniors unique gifts that relate to volleyball and to them, such as photos and cards.

After the game, a reception takes place in the media center for seniors and their parents. According to Mancini, the team members watch a slide show and coach Tefft sings “True Colors” as a gift to the seniors.

“[Most] of the seniors will not be playing in college, so this will be their last hurrah,” Mancini said. “They are the team leaders and everyone looks up to them. It’s important that we honor them.”

Unified volleyball:

Composed of special education students and regular education supporting players, NK’s unified volleyball team has won 1 match and lost 3 matches as of press time. Six seniors are on the team this year.

Unified volleyball switches captains each week, and Mrs. Tara Harrington is head coach. Ms. Jodie Traghella is assistant coach. This is Harrington’s third year coaching, and last year the team won the Division III title.

Generally, the group celebrates the accomplishments of the seniors by having a party at a player’s house, according to Harrington. The team’s last home game already took place.