This year’s basketball senior night included a new player, but a familiar face. Senior Wyatt Washburn has been working closely with the basketball team throughout high school. Normally he is on the bench supporting the team but this time he got to suit up.

“We wanted to thank him for all of the hard work he has put in to helping the basketball team,” said head coach Brian Nemecek.

“I was very excited that I was able to suit up and be a part of the team,” Washburn said.

The coaches went through the same process of as they normally would when adding a player.

“They had to make sure he had the same forms as everyone else. We just tried to follow all of the policies that everyone else has to follow,” said athletic director Tom Kerkman. 

Throughout the game the student section chanted for Nemecek to put in Washburn but the coaches were unable to do so.

“During the game Tom Kerkman the athletic director told us that we could not put Wyatt in the game because we did not know if he fit the requirements set by the NSAA. We played it safe so that we did not have any illegal players on the court and have to forfeit the game,” said Nemecek.

“We had to make sure he fit with the NSAA requirements. We would have liked to have seen him play but just being allowed to suit up and be a part of the team was special,” said Kerkman.

Senior Lauren Akers was in the crowd as the anticipation for Washburn to be put in.

“I was really excited when I heard that he was going to be able to play and as the game was almost over the excitement from the crowd grew. But when the game was over and he hadn’t gone in, we were all confused and disappointed,” said Akers.

Many members of the crowd were disappointed that Washburn was not allowed to be put in for the last short stretch of the game.

“We would have liked to see him play, to see him walk out on the court. But I think that just letting him suit up and be a part of the team was important,” said Kerkman.