Pennridge Girls Lax Celebrates Team's Six Seniors

The Pennridge girls’ lacrosse team celebrated its ‘Senior Day’ on Saturday with a surprise drive-by that culminated with the traditional introductions of seniors and their parents at Central Middle School.  Send us photos/information about your team’s senior event.

When coach Karen Schnurr and her assistants chose to celebrate ‘Senior Day’ with a surprise drive-by, the Pennridge girls’ lacrosse coach didn’t have to spend a whole lot of time mapping out the route from one senior’s house to the next. It turns out Schnurr had travelled that road before – all 60 miles - on a bike tour with assistant coach Will Rodzewich that included a brief catch at a socially safe distance with 40 of the players on her roster. The bike trip took close to nine hours. (Check out the video link: https://www.suburbanonesports.com/videos/pennridge-lax-coach-breaks-social-distancing-barriers-60-mile-bike-trip-0090279)

Saturday’s Senior Day drive-by didn’t take nine hours, but it couldn’t have been more significant for the team’s seniors – Maddie Banks, Shay Banks, Julia Biresch, Julianna Casey, Jill Csaszar and Emily Ruddy – who missed their final high school season. The drive-by included the coaches as well as the underclassmen and their families, and it culminated with brief recognition ceremony at Central Middle School where – with their underclassmen teammates lining each side of the parking lot - each senior and their parents made the traditional walk together.

Coach Kelly Schnurr said:  “We knew right away when we didn’t have a season that we wanted to do something. Will (Rodzewich) and I did the bike ride the other weekend, and we said, ‘We’re going to do a (drive-by) parade to show how much we appreciate them, love them and care for them.’ The first house we pulled up to I just started crying. It’s overwhelming happiness but also sadness because they’ve worked so hard. They’ve given us almost four years of time and dedication and passion, and to have it taken away is just sad.

“The seniors are a core group, they’re a solid group, and they’re a dedicated group, and they are just kind. They are just the kindest girls. There are never any issues, there are never any problems. They are just genuinely nice girls. I think that will be the thing I miss most about them – their kindness, their dedication, their willingness to do anything and everything.”

Senior captain Jillian Csaszar said:  “It’s been very tough, especially on the nice days - you think about all the nice days of lacrosse you could have, all the days you could be enjoying with your team. We really miss the girls. We have a tight-knit family, and it’s tough being away from your teammates because after four years you develop a very tight bond. On the nice days, it’s really hard because you picture all the good times you’ve had. It’s been a sad time, but this, for sure, was a good ending to a very crappy season. It’s been a great day.

Senior captain Maddie Banks said:  “We found out (that the season was suspended) right after our first scrimmage. It was just so disappointing because we worked so hard throughout the whole offseason and also every other year throughout our four years. It was finally our year to be the seniors, and getting that taken away was really hard. During our first scrimmage (against Lansdale Catholic), we were sitting on the bench, and we were like, ‘This might really be the only time we get to play.’ It was really bittersweet, and when we were playing, we knew to go all out for everyone because it might be the last time we’d be playing together.

“I’ve been playing lacrosse since fourth grade, and it’s just so weird to adjust to because we’re so used to it obviously, and it’s really hard when you think about everything you’re missing out on throughout the whole season. Not just playing but also spending as much time as you do with all of your teammates, and to go to not spending time with them – it’s hard.

“Today meant so much to all the seniors because it was so good to see everyone’s faces again. It was just really sweet that everyone went out of their way to celebrate us because obviously Senior Night is something you look forward to since freshman year.”