From the last free throw to the last touchdown catch, senior athletes are playing their final seasons through a unique year of high school. For some it may be the last time they ever play their sport competitively.

Football, one of the earliest sports to start, began its season in October. Senior varsity wide receiver Trey Gipson reflected on his football career as his last season came to a close.

“One of my favorite memories from football are the times where coach Ables and coach Branyon would try to scare us with fake snakes and spiders and half the time it actually worked,” Gipson said. “Before and after practices they’d wait outside the locker room doors and throw them at people.”

Gipson has played football since middle school, and the sport has been a big part of his life ever since.

“I started playing in 7th grade because I thought it looked fun and it was always something I had wanted to do,” Gipson said.

Senior varsity starting power forward Cade Holzman, a lifelong basketball player, relates to Gipson and is currently playing in his last season for the Bowie basketball team. Bowie basketball began play in early November.

“I started playing when I was [around four years old]. I love playing, getting better, and competing everyday,” Holzman said.

Both athletes have been around their sports for the majority of their lives, but Gipson does not plan on continuing his football career in college.

“I don’t have plans on playing football again, but I do want to become a physical therapist,” Gipson said. “Maybe one day in the future, that’ll bring me back to the sport.

Gipson is thankful for his time as a football player, for it has taught him a lot.

“Football has taught me that not everything will go as planned, but being able to adapt to new things is a key to success,” Gipson said.

Likewise, some of Holzman’s best high school memories and lessons came from basketball.

“My favorite memory from Bowie basketball was probably my sophomore year when we beat Lake Travis to go to round four of the playoffs,” Holzman said.

Erica Holzman, Cade’s mom and one of the basketball boosters, has enjoyed seeing Cade grow as a player and person.

“How we do anything is how we do everything; that quote sums up Cade well,” Erica said. “He puts his all into whatever he does, and he is super competitive. [I am proud of how] he can separate the basketball player and the young man he is. Boundaries are important and necessary, and my favorite part has been watching him grow as a person, player and teammate.”

It has been a challenging and uncertain year for Cade.

“Right now, I don’t know where I’m going to go yet, but continuing to play is definitely the plan,” Cade said. “Basketball has taught me just to keep working for what I want and to never give up on things.”

Erica has never stopped supporting her son through this unique season.

“[I think] Cade is adapting a little better than me to this season and year,” Erica said. “He just wants to play, so he’s doing whatever he can to make that happen. Sacrifice is a part of everything we do.”

As a parent of a senior athlete, Erica has some advice for new high school athletes.

“My advice would be to stay on top of your schoolwork, show up every day, and always give 100%,” Erica said. “This part is all on Cade. He is responsible for doing what he needs to do in order to play. Cade learned to advocate for himself at a young age, [and] failing is not an option for him.”