By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

An open letter to all student-athletes to consider for the start of the 2022-2023 athletic season:

For the seniors, this is your season of lasts.

For the freshmen, this is your season of firsts.

For the sophomores and juniors, this is your season of nexts.

Wherever you fit, prepare yourself to enjoy the ride.

Ask the seniors, because they themselves will tell you that it felt like yesterday when they were freshmen.

And when time flies that quickly, you don’t want to miss out on anything.

Memorable wins — and even memorable losses.

Valuable friendships.

Irreplaceable lessons.

They are all out there waiting for you.

You have to be the one to find them, though.

What you get out of your journey will be reflective of what you put into it.

Do not withdraw yourself from the hard work. Practices will make you better, but what kind of effort you put in before and after practice will define your season or your future.

Seek, then embrace the friendships and social opportunities that exist simply because you are part of a team.

The dinners, bus rides and seemingly meaningless, laughter-filled conversations.

They are as much about building a team as some of the drills you will tirelessly try to perfect in practice.

Ultimately, when the wins and losses are over, these are the moments that your long-lasting friendships will stand on.

And those moments are what will carry you through celebratory victories and heartbreaking losses. Both on and off the field.

Make it a priority to listen to your coach or team captain when they are talking.

Lock your eyes in, keep your mind clear and let your heart listen.

For the seniors, these are the last moments of your high-school career.

You have spent the last four years standing on the shoulders of giants and in four years you will be the giant future classes will be standing on.

How strong those shoulders will be are being defined right now.

In your season of lasts, first or nexts.

Wherever you fit, give your team the best version of you that exists. You will be happy with the outcome from shared time on the field with some of the best friends you will have in your lifetime. Shared time with a group of families that you will recognize and acknowledge in grocery stores, restaurants and other events for the rest of your life.

Ask your parents, because they themselves will tell you that it felt like yesterday when they were seniors.

And when time flies that quickly, you don’t want to miss out on anything.