With the end of every school year marking the end for senior athletes, it also marks a new beginning in the realm outside of athletics for them as well.
Xiomara Okonkwo, a sports medicine major from Detroit, Mich. was a member of the lacrosse team.
“After I graduate, I plan on going to medical school or graduate school,” she said.
Though she plans on attending school, Okonkwo does not plan on giving up on sports anytime soon.
“I don’t plan on ever ending my sports career,” Okonkwo said. “I actually plan on going back and helping coach my high school team, not for lacrosse, but for track and cross country for the summer.”
Daniel Kinney, international business and finance major from Romulus, Mich. runs track and has plans to continue his athletic career.
“After graduation I’m planning on pursuing a professional sports contract and to keep running,” said Kinney.
Despite their collegiate athletic career being over, it seems as if not many athletes are ready to completely let go of their ties to their respective sports.
“I may participate in little competitions,” said graduating accounting major and track athlete, Lillian Daniels. “Back home in New York, they have the Empire State Games, and you’re able to participate if you are collegiate or a resident of the state.”
The athletes spend so much time together, it was no surprise to hear that many of them will miss the unity that they shared with their teammates.
“Something that I will always remember is the team because we are a really close team,” Kinney said. “We always hang out together and help each other from time to time”
“Overall, this team that I have been apart of was the most united team that we ever had. It was like we were all sisters,” said Okonkwo. “I would like for them to have the same solidarity and unity that we had.”
When offering her last words of wisdom to her former teammates, Kinney urged his former teammates to stay persistent no matter what may come.
“I would say continue to work hard throughout the entire season, regardless of injury, and always be a light to the younger members of the team,” said Daniels who offered well wishes to the next year’s track team.
Reminiscing on the time spent participating in Howard athletics, some athletes offered comical stories while others remember the accomplishments their team helped them achieved.
“One memory I have was when I went to the MEAC [championship] for the 400 hurdles,” Daniels said. “I really enjoyed that. Actually qualifying was one of the most exciting experiences.”
“I remember when one of my team mates, Alnisha Minter, caught the ball and started running towards the wrong goal,” said Okonkwo. “One of my other team mates, tried to catch the ball but the head of her stick fell off.”
Despite of the many athletes going their separate ways, their memories at Howard will remain with them for a lifetime.
“I will miss the unity and solidarity between all of the athletic teams,” she said. “I went to another university and it was not the same. I feel like all the athletes who attended Howard seem to stick together and we look out for each other.”
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