ATHOL—When Athol High School class of 2018 graduates on June 3, most will have finished their high school career. The seven seniors on the varsity boys volleyball team will not.
Upon graduating, the team’s seven seniors of Justin Blake, Jordan Carrasquillo, Hudson Carlson, Nick Casella, Hayden Herk,Colby Mason and Anthony Potenti will return to the court to play in the team’s playoff game on June 5 at 6:30 p.m. against Minnechaug High School in Wilbraham.
“We’ve actually been coming back for the last week,” said Carrasquillo. “We’ve been done with school the past week, so it’s going to take an example of just having the determination of being there for all the seniors.”
Blake, the team’s captain, said coming back will be sentimental.
“Now that we’re gone, we know this could be the last time we’re here playing,” said Blake. “It makes it a lot more close, just makes everyone more intense. It feels more real.”
Athletes returning to play post-graduation is relatively common. Seniors on the varsity baseball team and varsity softball will return to play after graduation as well. Seniors at others schools will largely be in the same situation.
For boys’ volleyball team, the act is sentimental due to the fact that the group has largely been together since Elementary School with most teammates attending the same schools their entire lives. They all hang out together and hang out outside of school and sports.
“You just have the bond even through the years of knowing who they are,” said Carrasquillo. “Whether it’s growing up in the same neighborhood and being in the same class, there’s really no problems within our team. Everyone’s on the same page.”
All but one senior played on another varsity team this season. Carrasquillo and Blake both played on the varsity soccer team together along with Herk and Mason. Carrasquillo expressed a high level of interest in volleyball.
“(Volleyball) is definitely one of my top-favorite sports,” said Carrasquillo. “I wished I had played sooner because I would be a much better player. It was just a late opportunity I had and I had gotten bored in my offseason, so I decided to pick it up just to do something and it’s a sport I absolutely fell in love with. It really upsets me that I won’t be playing it again.”
Carrasquillo has been on the varsity team since 2017.
Blake shared a similar feeling.
“It’s definitely my favorite sport to play,” said Blake. “I have a lot more fun playing (volleyball) than any other sport. Even after high school, I’m going to try and play as an intramural sport in college.”
The Red Raiders will practice on Monday before their playoff game on Tuesday. If the team were to advance, they will practice on Wednesday as well.