Softball Senior Night

Kate McDermid and Mikayla Dumas • June 17, 2025

JFK”s Softball Seniors on their Senior Night

On Friday, May 2, John F. Kennedy Memorial High School hosted their softball senior night, in which they won 12-2 against Carteret. Seniors Lorelei Lorentzen, Layla Smith, Katlyn Brito, Aryanna Dlugosz, and Mia Morales all started and played an excellent game.

Captain Lorentzen was the leading scorer with four runs and hit two triples. Morales also had a great game, scoring three runs and one triple. Coming after Morales was Brito, who was able to score two runs and steal one base. Smith and Dlugosz had 3 hits each.

Before the game started, the seniors were recognized for their achievements throughout their time at JFK through a ceremony. Accompanying them were their family and friends who have supported them throughout each season.

We had an opportunity to interview each of the seniors about their time at JFK playing softball. Here’s what they had to say.

Senior Lorelei Lorentzen

Lorelei: Coach G has made a big impact on me because I wouldn’t be able to make it through four years of high school softball, especially with an injury my sophomore year. I wouldn’t be the same player without that coaching experience, and I just appreciate everything she’s done for me.

Captain Lorentzen and her family pose for a photo in front of the senior night sign. (Kate McDermid)

Senior Katlyn Brito

Katlyn: I’ll miss being able to see basically a second family every day and being able to improve myself with the support of my teammates behind me.

Brito stands in front of the senior night sign with her family. (Mikayla Dumas)

Senior Mia Morales

Mia: One of my favorite memories is always gonna be team bonding, we always go over to… Lorelei’s house. When we do team bonding, it’s a really fun experience, and we all just get to be ourselves and not get to be somebody that is competing for another spot against somebody [teammate] on the field.

It is a good feeling to be able to just mix with your teammates and actually have good chemistry in the team. It makes everything better if you do team bonding: it makes you guys closer, it makes you work better on the field, it- its a really good thing to do for any kind of sport. Yeah, I’ve just enjoyed team bonding for the past four years. We always go over to somebody’s house and we eat, laugh, play games, do karaoke, it’s really fun. I’m really gonna miss it.

Morales poses with her family for senior night as they carry supportive signs for her. (Kate McDermid)

Senior Aryanna Dlugosz

Aryanna: The bond that I have with my teammates is kinda like a second family, so even though if we’re not all friends, when we come together, we know we can count on each other to be there for one another.

Dlugosz poses with her sister Kylie Dlugosz, also on the team, and her family on senior night. (Mikayla Dumas)

Senior Layla Smith

Layla: To me personally, it’s [senior night] something that’s very memorable and it creates a significant moment because I feel like it marks all of my accomplishments and the family that I’ve made throughout the seasons. It signifies all the love we have for each other and how we all came together to make cards, making it a really nice night for everyone to care for each other. It just really showcases the success and your growth.

Smith poses with her parents in front of the senior night sign. (Kate McDermid)

About the Contributors

Kate McDermid, Fashion Editor

Kate McDermid is a junior at John F. Kennedy Memorial High School and it’s her second year contributing to the school’s online newspaper, The Torch. Kate loves to read and write, and after having Mrs. Prusicki, who runs The Torch, for freshman year for English, decided to take journalism. Kate’s on the varsity soccer and basketball team and has joined Key Club, American Cancer Society, Narrative 4, Student Council and Heros and Kool Kids. Outside of school, Kate loves to bake and spend time with her friends and family. Her goal for the future is to get into Ohio State and major in nursing.

Mikayla Dumas, Op/Ed Editor

Mikayla Dumas is a junior at JFKMHS. This is her second year as a contributor to the school’s newspaper, The Torch, as well as a second year student at JFK. She has always had a keen interest in writing, but decided on taking journalism during quarantine when doing a personal research project to pass time. Her hobbies include sleeping and listening to music, but work takes up most of her free time. Mikayla’s motivation comes from her peers and seeing what they’ve accomplished, as well as what her older sister has done academically. Her goals after high school are to attend college and major in journalism.