For underclassmen, the end of the season means a time to regroup, set higher goals, train harder, and wait for the next season. When you're a senior, however, it can mean the end of the line, creating an emotional rollercoaster where the destination is unknown.
With sports like wrestling, football and basketball over for the year, many senior athletes have come to a crossroads.
Brooke Meunier, the lone senior on the women's basketball team, reflects back to the moment she realized she was in her last year, and feels she may have worried about it too much.
"I thought about it a little bit. The team is young, and Belinda Gibb is the only girl graduating next year," Meunier said. "I tried to focus more (on playing), to enjoy it and have fun. My teammates are my best memory though, and the new coaching staff was great. It felt good to win again."
Meunier also said that she was actively pursuing post-college basketball endeavors overseas.
"Tryouts for Europe are in June, and I'll be going to Boston for them," Meunier said. "I have friends who play over there, so it would be a quicker adjustment. I would like to play in Spain or Italy, but those are the toughest countries to try out for."
Kyle Cerminara, a member of the wrestling team, ended his final season with a school record 34 single-season wins, and a trip to the NCAA Championships in Oklahoma City.
Although Cerminara believes he did not even come close to accomplishing his goals in college he said he has future plans in the sport. The wrestler hopes to be accepted into the Olympic Training Center in Colorado, where he plans to train for the 2008 Olympic trials.
"I don't know what I want to do yet, maybe Ultimate Fighting if Colorado doesn't work out," Cerminara said. He emphasized he has no desire to pursue coaching.
Harold Sherrell, a teammate of Cerminara, began his career as a walk-on for the Bulls. He made his way up the rankings and the hard work paid off as he won a Mid-American Conference title, and earned a trip to Oklahoma City for nationals.
"Doing well my last year hasn't really affected my choice about future plans," Sherrell said. "I came to UB to be a student first, and it's always been the first thing I've thought of."
The Syracuse native's plans after graduation include moving to Dallas, Tex., where his parents recently moved, and looking for a job.
"I'm just going to wait to get down there, enjoy my last couple weeks, and get my life together," Sherrell said.
The football team is entering a new chapter under new coaches but it will make that transition without two of its top players from this past season. Linebacker Bryan Cummings and defensive lineman Rob Schroeder hope to move on to bigger and better things.
As for going professional, both players remain optimistic about their chances.
"I've been trying to stay active throughout the year to keep myself in shape," Cummings said. "Going pro after college may be a long shot, but you never want to give up the dream."
"Definitely," Schroeder said to the question of whether or not he would be pursuing post-collegiate football. "Any lead going further would be great. Coming from Buffalo it's harder to get your name out. You have to be willing to work harder than the bigger schools, like Ohio State or Syracuse."
When asked about what they would miss the most about collegiate athletics, Sherrell said that being part of a Division I athletic program is something he will miss.
"Saying that you are a Division I athlete and being reasonably successful is an impressive goal to reach," Sherrell said. "I'm really going to miss that aspect."
For Meunier, it's the competition that is going to be hard for her to replace.
"I'm going to miss competing with really good athletes," Meunier said. "It just isn't the same level anywhere else."
Schroeder said the thing he is going to miss most is the team that he suited up with on the gridiron.
"I'll miss my teammates the most," Schroeder said. "Five years ago, I really learned to respect them as a family. I'm always going to remember them no matter where I go."
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
