Spring sports senior profiles, an ongoing series

With the spring sports season in question, we here at the Coalfield Progress/Dickenson Star/Big Stone Gap Post hope to run a profile on each and every senior in the paper. Our intention is to give them and their families something to feel happy about in a time of such uncertainty. This will be an ongoing series with different students featured each week.

Ridgeview softball’s Carissa Mullins

The Lady Wolfpack’s Carissa Mullins has been involved with sports for more than half of her 17 years. She has played travel softball every summer since she was eight years old and up until this year, she has played basketball, cross-country and volleyball. She decided to focus on softball alone for her senior year.

Mullins is undecided whether or not she will play sports in college. Her tentative plans are to attend Virginia Tech and major in biological science. She intends to progress to pre-med and become a trauma doctor.

Upon learning that her academic year was over and she may have played her final softball game weighs heavy on Mullins.

“The feeling I am experiencing right now is indescribable,” Mullins said. “To know that I walked the halls of Ridgeview for the last time without even knowing it is devastating to me. It seems like yesterday that I was walking into high school for the very first time and just thinking to myself how I wanted these next 4 years to fly, and well.. they did.”

Each season, all high school sports honor their senior athletes with special recognition on senior night. The realization that may not happen has hit Mullins hard.

“Now that my last season is on edge, I feel lost. I have played since I was eight years old and this is the season that every softball player looks forward to. Every senior athlete looks forward to their senior night, and I can say that’s something that I have looked forward to my whole life.”

Mullins is trying to stay positive in the face of adversity and cites her faith as a bastion during trying times.

“I have told myself that I cannot be selfish. I have to think of others and what other people are going through as well. I am not the only senior that isn’t getting to finish their high school career, and I am not the only senior athlete that is praying for one more game. At this point in time, I have to be hopefully, courageous, and have a lot of faith in God.”

Mullins’s message to her teammates is one of camaraderie, faith and love.

“To all my teammates, when I say it’s gone before you know it, I truly mean that from the bottom of my heart. Never take a single thing for granted, because this last month we have realized how fast things we love can be gone in a blink of an eye. Most importantly, never lose your faith in God. God blesses each and every one of us every day of our lives. When times get hard, run to him and not from him. No matter the outcome of this season, I can truly say that God blessed me with the best teammates. I love each and every one of you guys dearly, you guys will always hold a special place in my heart. GO WOLFPACK!”

Ridgeview softball’s Hunter Grant

Hunter Grant, 18, has played softball and basketball for as long as she can remember. She remembers spending her summers on a softball field or in the gym.

Grant has chosen not to play sports in college. She will attend UVA Wise pursuing her degree in nursing and intends to become a pediatric nurse practitioner.

Having to accept that her senior year is over and her final year of softball may not be played has been “a hard pill to swallow”.

“I have looked forward to so many things about this year for as long as I can remember. Senior night, senior trip, senior prom, my last day of high school and graduation are some of the most memorable moments that I, along with the class of 2020, will be missing out on. As for softball, I am so thankful to have played the game for the years that I did, and I am so thankful for the many lessons that the game has taught me,” Grant said.

Grant is quick to insert that the safety of all involved supersedes her pain.

“Although I am truly devastated that I will not get to experience the “first-last” like so many other seniors in the past, I am so thankful for my health, my family’s health, along with my teammate’s and coach’s health as well (are being taken into consideration),” Grant continued.

To her teammates, Grant says to live life to the fullest.

“I encourage each of you to never take a moment or play for granted. You never know when your last of something will be. So, don’t look forward. Live one day at a time and play every game like it’s the last time you will ever play,” Grant said.

Ridgeview softball’s Lauren Rasnick

Eighteen-year-old Lauren Rasnick grew up playing both basketball and softball. In her junior year, she opted to focus only on softball as well as taking up cross-country.

Rasnick will not play sports in college. Her intention is to attend Southwest Virginia Community College and then transfer to Lincoln Memorial University and eventually become a veterinarian.

Rasnick describes herself as “devastated” when she found out school was cancelled for the remainder of the year.

“I do not plan on playing sports in college, so that’s why I believe my senior year was so important to me. It was my last time for good,” Rasnick said. “I could do without the waking up early and homework, but I did not want to miss my senior year of softball. I know there’s still a chance that our season could happen, but I can’t help but to think that it probably never will and that hurts more than anything.”

Rasnick’s parting words to underclassmen are of the importance of laying the groundwork for the future.

“If you’re a junior and preparing for your senior year, I want you to remember to always tell your friends you love them and to always tell your teachers how much they have helped you. You never know when time will get taken from you and all you have left are the memories. To my teammates that will be there next year, soak up all you can because it really is the time of your life,” Rasnick said.