Bearcat, Ladycat soccer seniors celebrated on Senior Night

Published 1:30 pm Friday, March 29, 2024

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The Bearcat and Ladycat soccer teams honored 13 seniors Thursday night between games against Shaw High School. The Ladycats celebrated six seniors and the Bearcats celebrated seven. Bainbridge head soccer coach Brian Hill said his seniors bring another level to the teams’ identities. 

“They have a lot of experience,” Hill said. “They’ve played a lot of soccer… and right now, they’re being leaders on the field and off the field as well.”

Ladycat Seniors

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Brenna Conley played soccer through middle school and her freshman year, took a break sophomore and junior year, and returned to the team this year. Conley also plays Softball, and she plans to further that career in college. She is committed to play softball at Charleston Southern University.

Brenna said she finds inspiration in the Bible verse Colossians 3:23-24, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the lord, not for men, knowing that from the lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the lord christ.”

Elvira Hernandez has played soccer since 6th grade. Hernandez is a member of the HOSA and National Honor Society. She enjoys spending time with friends and family and watching sunsets. After graduation, Hernandez plans to enter the Dental Hygiene program at SRTC and pursue a career in dentistry.

Elvira said she finds inspiration in the Bible verse Isaiah 43:2, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.

Carmen Martin has played soccer since freshman year. Martin is a member of FFA and enjoys horseback riding and spending time with friends and family. After completing high school, Martin plans to attend college to study Veterinary Medicine.

Martin said she finds solace in the words of Aubrey Hepburn who said, “Nothing is impossible. The word itself says I’m Possible.”

Julie Sarmiento has been playing soccer since she was 4 years old. Sarmiento is a VP of HOSA and is a member of the Anchor Club, Honor Society, wrestling team, the Pride of Decatur County Marching Band, Jazz Band, Clarinet and Woodwind Quartet, and volunteers at the Bainbridge Rec Center. She enjoys going to the movies, trying new restaurants, and spending time with friends and family.

Sarmiento plans to attend Mercer University after graduation, where she will major in Biology and Spanish. She then plans to eventually attend medical school to become an anesthesiologist. 

Sarmiento said she finds inspiration in the Bible verse Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Dallis Thompson has played soccer for seven years. She serves as secretary of the Key Club, Historian for HOSA, and Captain of the BHS Danceline. She is also a member of the Anchor Club and the Drama Club, and enjoys outdoor activities like running, fishing, or kayaking, as well as baking and hanging out with her friends.

Thompson plans to attend Georgia Southern University to study nursing and become a nurse anesthetist. 

Thompson said she uses the Bible verse Galatians 5:22, “the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control,” to keep herself grounded. She first learned the verse from her grandmother.

Nicole Tyre has played soccer since she was nine years old. She is also a varsity cheerleader, and member of Anchor Club, FCCLA, and National Honor Society. She enjoys spending time with friends, being out on the lake, and playing pickleball.

After graduation, Tyre plans to attend Georgia Southern University and study Physical Therapy.

She said she takes inspiration from the Bible verse Joshua 1:9, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged for the Lord will be with you.”

Bearcat Seniors

Nicholas Tyre, Nichole Tyre’s twin brother, has played soccer for 14 years. Tyre is also The Bearcat football team’s kicker. He is in the First Port City Bank leadership program, on the First National Bank youth advisory board, and a member of the National Honor Society.

After graduation, Nicholas plans to study sports medicine. 

He said he enjoys the quote, “Every moment you live in the past is a moment you waste in the present”

Tomás Gallo has played soccer since he was six years old. Gallo serves as a member of the National Honor Society and likes to listen to music, watch movies, and make fun of his friends.

After high school, Gallo wants to attend college and study industrial engineering. 

He said he finds this quote from professional soccer player Virgil Van Dijk interesting: “No one is going to look at the good things you do. Everybody is going to watch the bad things, and that’s how it is.”

Michael Lathan Holt has played soccer for 5 years. He enjoys playing golf, going to church, participating in travel soccer, and hanging out with friends. Holt is a member of FCA and plans to continue playing soccer in college while pursuing a degree in biology to become a wildlife biologist.

When he seeks inspiration, Holt said he turns to the words of the “great” Ricky Bobby: “If you ain’t first, you’re last”

Mason Lamkin has played soccer for two years. Lamkin enjoys skimboarding, swimming, and running. After graduation, Lamkin is considering studying business and becoming an entrepreneur or applying to technical school to study underwater welding.

LLamkin said he likes to reflect upon Winston Churchill’s quote: “The positive thinker sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible.”

Joseph Perez has played soccer for 10 years. Perez enjoys driving, cooking, and exercising. In the future, Perez said he’d like to own his own business and plans to study marketing and finance to make that dream possible. 

When Perez needs inspiration, he said he reflects on professional soccer player Sergio Ramos’s quote: “ Success is not only about winning, but also about learning from your failures and making the necessary adjustments to improve.”

Joel Sarmiento has been playing soccer since he was four years old. He enjoys playing basketball when not focussed on soccer. After graduation, Sarmiento said he wants to have his own HVAC business with his dad.

Brock Williams has played soccer for 14 years. Williams is a member of the National Honor Society, FCA, and the apprenticeship program through Memorial Hospital. He also enjoys lifting weights, reading his Bible, and hunting. 

After graduation, Brock plans to continue his soccer career at Clayton State University, where he will also study kinesiology with the goal of becoming a physical therapist. 

He said he takes comfort in the Bible verse Deuteronomy 31:6, “Do not be afraid or terrified of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you, nor forsake you.”