The Class of 2026 has touched the lives of many West Albany High School athletes. Since the senior athletes act as mentors throughout the sports season, underclassmen can get a better understanding of the sport. As a result, they have helped many new and returning athletes both during tryouts and during the season.

     Freshman Ares Boulware mentioned the seniors would help him if he was confused or if he needed help with something. 

     “They were role models,” Boulware said.  “If I didn’t know how to do something, [they] did know what to do, so I just watched them.”

     For Boulware, the senior that stood out the most was Jonah Lasselle. 

     “He plays basketball, so I learned how to control the ball [by] watching him.” 

 Lasselle inspired him to keep practicing and master his skills.

     Meanwhile, sophomore Elianna Campbell shares her own perspective on how the seniors have impacted other athletes. 

     “[They] explain certain drills… and they’re definitely more helpful because they’ve been there before, and they also help when it looks like you’re lost,” she said.     

     The most inspirational senior players to her are Amelia Kidd, Kodi Carapinha, and Mikayla Chaffins. For Campbell, her seniors each impact her in their own different ways.

     “[Amelia is]… a great first baseman. Kodi is very inspirational, and Mikayla has such a sweet soul,” Campbell said. 

         Sophomore Karder Collon said the most influential senior to him was Kyle Nelson. 

     “[He] pushed me a lot during track and helps me make sure I get all my work done,” Collon said. 

     The seniors would also advise him to push harder and keep trying. 

     “[They] teach you an introduction to sport [and to] work really hard and try to get as many reps in as possible.”

    For sophomore Sammy Muñoz, the entire team has been influential to him, but one of his teammates who stood out was Zach Hopkins. 

     “He would critique my form of being a center,” Muñoz said, “so he was my role model for that.” 

     His team of seniors would help him understand new things as well as act as the person he strives to be. 

     “A lot of times, it helped me when they gave me advice on how to remember stuff. So that was a lot of the tips that I was getting, [and] they played jokes on us all the time.” 

     The seniors helped ease him into the sport and made trying out feel more comfortable. Even across different sports, the seniors’ impact on other athletes helps push them to be better players. The effect and impressions they made on their underclassmen will be applied for many generations to come.