As the class of 2026 seniors head into their final fall sports season at Hastings High School, many are eager to lead their team to victory, cheer in a team huddle for the last time, and perhaps continue their athletic journey in college. For the past three years, the school has provided varsity athletes in the senior class with individual blown-up photos of themselves, which are plastered on posters throughout their respective athletic fields. Soccer players most commonly have their posters at the Burke, while cross country runners have theirs located at the track. As the year progresses, the posters change to represent the corresponding Varsity athletes competing in the different seasons. For the 2025 fall season, however, the posters were removed and replaced with smaller lawn signs, which are displayed in a row on the small grass swale outside of Farragut Middle School.
While some seniors expressed their frustration with how their opinions on wanting the larger posters were overlooked, others have commented on how they feel the decision doesn’t need to be under such scrutiny. Senior, Student Athlete-Committee Member, and 2025 Varsity Softball Section 1 Champion Siri Rosenberg explains her perspective of how the decision came about: “As far as I know, this was a booster club decision related to finances. Seniors on the Student Athletic Committee (SAC) came up with a list of fundraising ideas to raise money for the posters, as well as a list of seniors who preferred posters to signs. While the ultimate restriction was finances, solutions to raise money were proposed and ignored [by the Hastings Athletic Boosters .” She then went on to explain her shared opinion of the situation; “…I think the signs look sloppier… the decision to use lawn signs as opposed to posters doesn’t represent the class of 2026’s wishes… part of what was so loved by the posters was that they were put at the athletes’ sports fields at home games; this added a sense of pride for senior athletes.”
Junior Rob Jennemen, President of the SAC, provides insight into how the Student Athlete Committee never had any potential in influencing the lawn sign decision: “I think there might be a misconception that while the Hastings Athletic Boosters and Athletic Department work closely together, they are separate legal entities. The boosters are a registered nonprofit and make their own decisions without control from the athletic department.” Jennemann explains that the optimistic outlook that the new location of the lawn signs provide “added publicity” is much appreciated.
However, for other seniors, the stylistic and location changes of the lawn signs represent the wider issue of the athlete’s achievements being undermined. Lola Norlander, who will be finishing her senior year as a three season Varsity athlete, and who also made Hastings Softball history as a member of the 2025 Section 1 Champions, shared her concerns about the sign’s restricted ability to promote the athletes: “My opinion on [the decision to use] the lawn signs rather than the senior banners is that it takes away from the spotlight seniors deserve on their designated fields or courts. This applies to everyone, but especially the senior athletes going to college to further their sports career, such as myself. Having the banners at the respective fields and courts gives the seniors an opportunity to be shown to everyone who comes to watch the games and matches.” Norlander concludes her argument by citing that the location in front of the middle school contributes to the inadequacy of the lawn signs – the decision to place them in front of the middle school weakens their connection and association with the high school athletes.
Although many students have disagreed with the decision to implement the lawn signs as a substitute for the larger posters, the general decision to honor the athletes through poster-like representation is a key element of Hastings High School that has been strongly appreciated by the community.