Thank you all. God bless. All right. Please welcome Elena Jacobus with her speech child diagnosis senoritis prognosis success. [cheering] Hello and good morning. My name is Elena Jacobus and I have been in Brown County all my life. Standing up here today is truly surreal. 2026 seemed so far away when I was a little kindergartener at Van Beerren. But suddenly, in the blink of an eye, graduation has arrived. Today, I want to talk about a condition that I'm sure everyone in the class of 2026 is all too familiar with. Senioritis, typically presenting itself around the second semester of senior year, although it can show up earlier in some, is characterized by loss of motivation felt by seniors as graduation grows closer and closer, especially after applying and being accepted into colleges and trade schools. Individuals with senioritis may begin to procrastinate more than they had in the past, and many seniors may find themselves complaining about school more than they used to.
>> So base is loaded. Nowhere to put her. First pitch is a ball. >> Yep. Believe this is Caitlyn to Julia. 255 this season. Comes the 10 swing and a miss. Took a huge hack and it's one and one. >> Julia uh played third base for the Warriors in the first game. Uh she played a great game over there at third base. I believe she was one for two in that initial contest. >> Here comes the 1-1. That's a line drive into left field at the base hit. One run scores. They go station to station and Whan with two outs strikes first. Yeah, the Juliet nice piece of hitting to get it over the leaping Lauraai Colette over there down the third baseline. She ripped one right down the line. Luckily, Rebecca Cre was able to get in a hurry, hold that to only one run.
The feelings that come with senioritis are quite complicated. While it may seem to produce purely negative feelings at first, a lot of feelings that come with senioritis actually come from excitement and a desire to see what will come next. It is this conflict between a lack of motivation and a desire to experience next steps that senioritis begins to emerge. Seniors know that they are closer to the finish line than ever before. At times the distance they have left can feel like an eternity. The good news is that senioritis is not terminal. If it were, none of us would be standing here today proud to be graduating as an eagle in the class of 2026. Despite being caught up in a horrible case of senioritis myself this year, I still found myself quite frequently noticing all of the lasts I would be experiencing. the last first day of school, the last football game, the last field trip, the last time listening to 80s music on my way to school, the last band concert, etc.
Uh, but we've got ourselves in a little bit of trouble here with the bases loaded still. It's got to get out of this jam. >> And it's Olivia Carmeloitz. That one's misses. And it's ball one. >> Yeah, really want to try to limit the damage here. One run is certainly not going to win this game with the bats that the Clockers have, but you do not want to fall behind in a game like this. I'm sure they're a little tight and and you want to make sure they can keep this thing close. That's upstairs. Two balls and no strikes. Carmeloitz does strike out a lot. 210 average on the season. And looks like we're going to have a quick mound visit here. >> I think it's a smart move right now. Don't you, George, come out, settle her down. She's she wants to, you know, make sure she works this batter.
I would realize how close I really was to graduating, which felt both terrifying and kind of exciting. I'd feel quite bittersweet whenever I noticed these things because while I noticed a lot of laughs, I firmly believe that graduation is not an end. It is a beginning. the beginning of adulthood, the beginning of new responsibility, and the beginning of new freedoms. With every last, there is a new first. While many of us may be experiencing the last day we will ever see each other, we will also have the first day we meet people that will be our best friends many years from now. While we just experienced the last day of school yesterday, almost all of us will have a first day at college, trade school, or a new job. Graduation is a day to celebrate not Not only the fact that we are out of high school, but it is a day to celebrate our journey leading up to this point and celebrate what's next.
Maybe he's even saying to her what Jacob just told us. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Of course. That's a great idea, especially for somebody that hasn't pitched a lot during the season. Um, and she's coming in again, a lot of pressure on her. And, you know, a high school um, you know, student coming out in the middle of a playoff game having not pitched. Uh, there's a lot on her mind. So, it's very smart move by the coach to come out and tell her, "Hey, relax. Do what you do. Get, you know, let's get the ball on the ground and get it out here." That one misses. So, it is three balls and no strikes here. You got you got nowhere to put her right now. So, this is this is time. You may even have to just think about grooving one and having the defense make a play behind you because you cannot afford to walk in a run.
Suddenly, all of those late homework nights and class assignments seem worth it and senioritis seems to fade and give way to feelings of intense satisfaction and gratitude. Speaking of gratitude, there are many people I wish to thank here today. I will not be mentioning specific names simply because everyone, and I do mean everyone, in this district and beyond, has provided such a positive impact on our lives that this speech would feel incomplete if I were to mention a few people and leave others out. First of all, I would like to express gratitude to our families and friends. You've all supported us from our first day of school to the last. Coming to our games, our competitions, and our performances, you've been there for us through all of our ups and downs. You see us at our best and at our worst. And yet you still choose to love, care for, and support us each and every day.
>> And that one misses. Yeah. So, they do walk in a run. Carmeloitz will take first base and it's two nothing Whan. >> Yeah, this is probably the worst possible start that the Clarkers could have thought of uh in terms of um walking runs in, right? This is this is not the kind of team that you want to give a lead to because they also do have pretty good bats. So, we got to see what Holly can settle down here. >> It's a swing and a miss by the freshman Sophia Gork. 305 this season for Wayland and Cash gets ahead. >> That's when she needs to be needs to be ahead. Got to get first pitch strikes here. >> And Holly, she has a really nice change up. She, you know, most throws a lot of fast balls where she has that great change up that just kind of falls out at the end and gets batters to go for it.
You see how we have grown over the years, and that growth is not only due to the education we receive in class, but also due to your support and encouragement as we try new things and explore new passions. Perhaps most of all, I would like to express sincere gratitude to all of our teachers and administrators we have had from preschool onward. You guys have weathered the storm with us from the first to the lasts and everything in between. There is a lot of work that goes into teaching that we students don't even realize. For every late night that we spend doing homework, a teacher will spend three late nights creating lesson plans, grading our work, and of course, dealing with emails saying that Canvas broke when we tried to submit an assignment at 11:58 that was due at midnight. We've all been there. One annual teacher appreciation week is not enough to fully appreciate all you guys do for us.
And I think, you know, she had a strike out with that type of pitch and now she just got a first right here. I think maybe she needs to throw that a little bit more and get the batters biting on it. >> Yeah, this is a big confidence batter I think for Holly. If you can get out of this, she gets out with a little bit more confidence than >> just that pitch. >> That's strike two. >> The doctor order, George. That's what you're looking for. >> Somebody get a message over to Hall. We want to see more of that. >> That's the one. That's the one. Dr. Dr. Tubin called it in. >> See if she goes there again. Ahead one and two here. Trying to strand the bases loaded. Ground ball into left. That's a base hit. They'll send another runner to the plate >> and scoring standing up is the Julia.
I hope that after graduation you are all able to go home, put your feet up, and take a nice long nap. You guys deserve it. To all of you that have experienced senioritis this year, congratulations. We made it. We survived. To all of you that will be experiencing senioritis in the near future, good luck. Godspeed and keep your eye on the prize. Enjoy the small moments, treasure the lasts, and look forward to the firsts with excitement and curiosity. Most importantly, and this goes out to everyone here today, never ever stop learning. Thank you. [cheering] Please welcome Brown County High School's choir to sing Time After Time. I hear [singing] cles [singing] Flash almost [music and singing] left behind me [singing and music] >> [music] >> I fall behind. and [singing and music] you will find me After you fall, [music] I will catch [singing] you.
Two more runs come in on a single from Gork and it's four nothing Whan. Yeah, unfortunately that ball was hit hard and Griezmann did not handle it cleanly. Uh I think a clean I think a clean handle by the left fielder would have stranded that runner at third. Unfortunately, two runs do end up coming in on the single. Uh, and now the the Clockers find themselves in a really tough hole in the top of the first. Four to nothing. Not a place that they have been too often this this year. Uh, let's see what kind of resilience they have when they get back to the plate, but they've got to get out of this inning. >> The only thing they have going for them now is third base is open. So, oh, was this intentional walk? Oh, no. She checking the ball out. I think they want a new ball.
I'll be waiting after my fades. Darkness. has turned to graying through window. [music] [singing] [music] >> If you're [singing] lost, [music] you can look and you will Find me after [singing and music] I will catch you. I will be waiting [singing] after you look and you will find me [singing] after I will catch you. I will be waiting after. Every time after every Please welcome our principal, Miss Roberts, back up to the podium to share a few words. Thank you, Kate. Standing here today is incredibly special for me because for many of you, this isn't where our story began. I've known so many of you since you were little. Back in elementary school classrooms, on playgrounds, in gyms, or on fields, when your backpacks were almost bigger than you were, and your dreams were just beginning to take shape. And now look at you. Confident, resilient, and ready.
>> Okay. This is the senior Viven Breard. 346 average on the season from your nine hole hitter. >> First pitch is outside. Got to wonder at this point how long they stick with Cashing. Uh you do have Nico Ustaris at shortstop who can come into the game and pitch. Nico does have experience in the circle. >> That's a good pitch there and it's one and one. Yeah, her fast ball has been coming in high. I think it should just bring it down a little bit and keeps mixing it with that change up. She'll do fine, >> but just a matter of settling down in there. One bounces in there and it's two balls in a strike. >> Good stop there by Eva behind the plate. Uh, you know, as I I I've said this before about this team, the key of this team is their offense.
It's hard to put into words the kind of pride I feel today. Not just because you made it to graduation, but because I've seen the journey it took to get here. I've seen your growth, your struggles, your laughter, and your determination. I've seen who you are and who you've become. And I want you to hear this clearly. You've already made an impact. You matter. You have left your mark on this school. in ways that will go far beyond today. But today isn't just about looking back. It's about stepping forward. Tomorrow, life will look a little different. And Monday morning, for the first time, you won't be walking through the halls of Brown County High School as students. That reality can feel exciting and maybe a little overwhelming, too. So, I want to remind you of something important. Brown County High School doesn't stop being your home just because you graduate.
They do need to hit um four runs shouldn't be a uh insurmountable task. That's a ground ball. Diving play who stars flipped the bag and he she caught her at second. What a play. >> A huge play by Nico to stop the bleeding. You know, that's what you need when you're when you when you're down and it's having a hard time. You need your best players to step up and make a play. Nico makes an absolutely great diving stop. Gets the runner at second base. Stop the bleeding. Four to nothing. Now it's time to get the bats rolling. Yeah, as you said, you know, certainly not not the ideal start to the game. Uh to come in at 4 nothing, but in softball and the way these girls have been playing, it's 4 nothing is like maybe one- nothing at a baseball game. Um >> so I'm sure they're going to get the bats moving and get this thing tied up.
This place, these people, this community, you will always belong here. No matter where life takes you, no matter how far you go, you will always have a place to come back to. And I hope you do. Come back when you land your first job. Come back when you figure out what you're passionate about. Come back when life doesn't go as planned. And especially, come back when you have something to celebrate. Even the smallest victories matter. We want to celebrate with you. We want to cheer you on. We want to see the lives you're building and the difference you're making. And you will make a difference. Not because you have everything figured out. But because you've learned how to keep going even when things get hard. You've learned how to support each other. You've learned how to grow. That's what will carry you forward. And as you leave today, I hope you carry three things with you.
>> Yeah. Uh you know, we say that, but you are facing a tremendous pitcher in the circle today in in Sophia Beckett. uh in their first matchup against the Clockers. Uh she did something that not too many teams have done. She essentially shut down the top four in the lineup for Ashland. Um they had a couple batteries that had really good days. I think Ruby Kazadian had two hits and Laura Klet had two hits in that game, but other than that, not a lot of hits uh on the day for the clockers in their five to four victory. And as you said, Beckett comes into this game with 500 career strikeouts and she's on her way to go play for Endicott after she graduates. So, we've got a really formidable foe here in the circle. >> Yeah, as we're watching her warm up, she has quite the fast ball.
First, Confidence in who you are. You are more capable than you realize. Second, Gratitude for the people who helped you get here. None of us can do it alone. And third, courage. Courage to take risks. Courage to fail. courage to learn to keep moving forward anyway. Success isn't about having a perfect path. It's about continuing to walk it even when it's uncertain. Class of 2026, I am so proud of you. Not just for what you've accomplished, but for who you are. And while today may feel like an ending, it's really just a beginning of everything ahead. So go chase your dreams. Go make your mark. Go build a life you're proud of and don't forget where you came from because we will always be here cheering you on, welcoming you back, and reminding you just how proud we are. Congratulations, graduates. All right. the time you've been waiting for.
I mean, it's it's coming in so hard the catcher is not even able to hold on to a lot of them. >> Her last time out against Lynn Classical, she got a win. Seven innings, four runs, five strikeouts. 432 RA, but 191 strikeouts. in the uh the dual county league. They don't post their allstars, I believe, till later in the summer, but you'll most likely for sure see her name in there. >> I would fully anticipate that. But we've got our allstar up at the plate right now with leading off is uh >> one of the best in the business, Nico. Here she goes. >> 606 average in the regular season. The first pitch has bounced in there. >> Four home runs. Only struck out three times all season. Played every game for the Clockers. Yeah, Nico has been a consistent force at the top of the lineup for Ashlin this year.