SOLON – There’s no stronger wake-up call in high school sports
than realizing it’s your turn to be honored on Senior Night. Four years of practices, scrimmages, and games seem to fly by in an instant.
The Solon Spartans (13-5) made the most of their special night, securing a commanding 69-53 victory over the Independence Mustangs (7-11).
Before tipoff, eight seniors—Karsyn Regennitter, Isaiah Zoske, Caleb Bock, Nolan Seagren, Owen Einwalter, Eddie Johnson, Jackson Link, and Beau Mullen—were recognized on the court alongside their parents. Mothers received flowers in appreciation of their support.
Head Coach Jared Galpin honored his seniors by rolling out an all-senior starting lineup.
“This was my first freshman class of coaching. It was awesome seeing
these guys go through the program,” said Coach Galpin.
After escaping with a 65-61 win over the West Delaware Hawks(4-13). The seniors wasted no time setting the tone. Solon’s first four made baskets came from beyond the arc, with a fifth just inside the line for two points.
Owen Einwalter knocked down two early threes, pumping up the home crowd by throwing up three fingers after each shot.
Independence, however, kept pace in the first quarter. The Mustangs responded with baskets of their own and even provided a moment of chaos when a Mustang forward, Crayton Iverson, chased a loose ball into the bleachers, leaping over a few rows to avoid colliding with families in the stands.
Despite the back-and-forth action, Solon held a 16-11 lead after the first quarter.
The second quarter was where the Spartans took control, thanks to a dominant stretch from senior Isaiah Zoske. He poured in 11 points, showcasing his shooting ability from deep and finishing strong at the rim, including an and-one play that ignited the crowd.
“Every time I’m open, I pull the trigger. That’s what I like to do,” Zoske
said with a smile postgame. Solon’s defense also tightened up, holding Independence to just nine points in the quarter. By halftime, the Spartans had built a commanding 43-20 lead.
The second half featured a steady exchange of baskets until one of the most electrifying moments of the season. With the game in control, Coach Galpin called a timeout and drew up a play for Beau Mullen, a senior who had rejoined the team this season after not playing since seventh grade.
On the inbounds pass, Mullen caught the ball under the basket, took flight, and threw down a powerful slam dunk. The gym erupted. The crowd jumped in unison, the bench exploded, and the energy inside the gym hit its peak.
“We were looking for that moment the whole game. It was a cool moment,” Mullen said.
The Spartans cruised through the final stretch, allowing their seniors to soak in every second of their final regular season home game.