We know how big final events are in all aspects of life. Graduations, retirements, last at-bat. Some might even toss in a good funeral oration. Final “anythings” are going to be important — and final sports games are no different. Some athletes have played here for four years; some have played for one or two. But the love for the school and the athletic department is the same. Fieldston Athletics makes a sincere effort to support their seniors and give them a heartwarming farewell. I remember football coach Gus Ornstein telling us that the goal for our final game was to give the seniors a standing ovation, winning by so much that the seniors could leave one by one to be replaced by freshmen with the crowd standing to applaud each senior individually. Although that didn’t happen because the team had to climb back from a 30+ point deficit at halftime (which we did!), the fact that it was the last game and we came back to win made it the most memorable sporting event of my life. And the crowd gave us a standing ovation anyway!
All this thought about how important final games are inspired me to seek out the stories of athletes who either had played their last games in fall or winter or athletes who had their last games on the horizon this spring. As the game clock runs down on our time at Fieldston, I felt it would only be right to hear from the students who are experiencing these events first hand.
I spoke with my teammate and brother Jackson Fauvre, star player, football captain and baseball senior. He hasn’t played his final game for baseball yet, but for football, he recalled his final game and the extra motivation that it fueled him with. “I remember every play was so much more high-stakes because I knew it was my last game. I didn’t want to look back on this game and think I didn’t give my full effort.”
I can personally say as his teammate who played in that game that it was one of the single best player performances I’ve ever seen at Fieldston. He truly kicked into a higher gear and went out with a bang.
When talking with my good friend, softball captain, artist and raconteur, Aidan Goldsmith, she said, “Going into my senior season, I already knew that I would need to be hard on my teammates and push them to be better. I knew I wanted to be captain.” However, toward the end of the season, she felt bittersweet emotions about her mindset. “I think I’m in a bit of denial. My freshman year we were getting ready to go to Florida, and then the season was lost due to Covid. So for my mindset, I still feel like a freshman or sophomore who has so many games ahead of them. But the truth is that I don’t.”
All of us athletes who have been here since freshman year know exactly how Aidan feels. Covid took a lot from us, and it was so powerful to hear Aidan reflect on how that loss affected her final year. Still, her words show us how to move forward regardless.
One of the most interesting perspectives comes from the legendary Sarah Cate Wolfson, field hockey senior and moral support expert and fun-raiser. She remembers her final game as a moment where she had to lead her teammates from the sidelines. “My final game was actually a second round playoff game. I understand that the coach has to put her best players out on the field for a game like that… I was not one of them. Just being there and experiencing that atmosphere and being as supportive as I could be mentally for her teammates and an emotional leader was vital.” The game didn’t go well, so she did get to go in at the end. “When I got put in, I just wanted to prove to myself in the final minutes that I’d been playing this game for a purpose.”
Every single team needs a vocal leader who will not always be on the field who they can look to in tough times for motivation. Sarah, you have been that and more for this team and I’m sure they know how lucky they are to have had you.
All these inspiring interviews made me think of how grateful I am to have this special Fieldston athletic community to call home these last four years. It is unbelievably unfortunate that all good things must come to an end, but I know that when I look back at my experience with Fieldston athletics, it will be with nothing but love and admiration for the coaches, trainers and directors who make not only every single senior but every single player feel unique and supported. Players, I encourage you to live in the moment and not dwell over these final games, except to appreciate them fully so you can remember them forever.
I know I will.
