With graduation and summer around the corner, students are feeling a bit nostalgic about all the memories from this year. From back to school, homecoming, PowderPuff, prom, the musical, Saucon Valley High School has had many memorable moments. Our journalists shared their favorite memories from this year.
Senior Camila Hernando:
All four years here at Saucon have been memorable for me, though the most memorable was watching the seniors walk through the school in their cap and gown. I have always had the honor of calling one of those seniors a friend throughout my last four years. This is a sentimental tradition and one I hold close. Watching them walk is a reminder of how far they’ve come and where they are now.
I’ve always looked forward to being able to be the senior walking through the school among all my friends and peers, this year I am granted that opportunity. As a freshman, that moment felt further away than it really is. There are memories I have from three years ago that feel like they happened yesterday. When you’re a freshman, a senior will probably tell you the next four years go by quickly, you’ll probably just brush it off. As a freshman I thought, ‘High school just started.’ But it’s over just as quick as it starts. As I walk through the halls of Saucon, I am excited to make a new memory to hold dear to me.
Senior Zachary Banonis
One event that was very memorable to me was our most recent baseball game. It was the district playoff semifinals versus Jim Thorpe. The game was our first in over 17 days after we failed to make it past the first round of league playoffs despite being the number one seed. Once again we were the one seed but this time for district playoffs. We were feeling confident due to our previous victory against Jim Thorpe in the regular season.
The game started off well as we went up 2-0 in the second inning. Junior Noah Hubert was pitching great but eventually they scored one run after an error. Then in the top of the seventh inning Jim Thorpe scored again and tied the game 2-2. We failed to score in the bottom of the inning and they once again scored in the top of the 8th in extra inning. Then, senior Jacob Eshelman got up, 1 out, bases loaded, bottom of the 8th inning and hit a walk off double to give us the win. This win advanced us to the district finals game which we play in order to hopefully get revenge against Northwestern Lehigh for their win against us in district and leagues last year.
Junior Alexis Battoni
This year’s Saucon Valley girls lacrosse season was one of the most important parts of my junior year because it helped me grow both on and off the field. Going into the season, I was excited but also nervous because I wanted to improve as a player and become closer with my teammates. As the season went on, I started building stronger friendships with the girls on the team. Whether it was long practices, bus rides to games, or team dinners, we all became really close and supported each other through everything. Having teammates who constantly pushed me to do better made me more confident in myself and helped me step outside of my comfort zone. I learned how important hard work, communication, and positivity are, especially during stressful games or difficult practices. Even on days when I was tired or frustrated, lacrosse always gave me something to look forward to and made me genuinely happy.
University on May 21, 2026. (Alexis Battoni)
Senior Edward Cohen
For three years, my varsity basketball experience meant wearing a warm-up jersey, cheering from the bench, and watching the clock run down. Senior Night changed everything when coach called my name for the starting lineup, giving me my first-ever varsity start. Stepping onto the hardwood under the bright lights, the gym felt different, charged with an energy I had only ever witnessed from the sidelines. I wasn’t just a spectator anymore; it was my night to play.
The hoop looked as wide as the ocean, and every shot I took found its rhythm. I finished the game with over ten points, knocking down a smooth three-pointer, driving hard for two clinical field goals, and sinking three crucial free throws. With every bucket, the home crowd grew louder, ultimately chanting my name in a roar that echoed off the gym walls. Going from zero playing time to a double-digit performance made that final home game an unforgettable victory that I will carry with me forever.
Junior Brittian Ash
My favorite part of this year was when I played in the powderpuff volleyball games. It was a very fun experience and I got to skip class for the day. Also, my team was diverse and there were kids I don’t really talk to on the team. I got to talk to new people while doing this. I also got to hangout with some of my closest friends, since they were on the team aswell. We had a good team theme, USA, so that also made it more fun. We ended up losing in the championship but overall it was a fun experience. Would do again.
Senior Jacob Eshleman
Senior year of high school was a season I’ll never forget. Between the long school days, the memories with friends, and the excitement of baseball season, it became one of the best years of my life. Spending time with my teammates and classmates made every day enjoyable, whether we were joking around in school, hanging out after games, or practicing together for the next matchup.
On the field, our baseball team found a lot of success throughout the season. We worked hard every day, stayed focused, and played together as a team. The hard work paid off as we earned a spot in the playoffs, making the season even more memorable. Every game brought energy and excitement, and sharing those moments with my friends made the experience special.
Looking back, senior year was about more than just wins and losses. It was about the friendships, the memories, and finishing high school surrounded by people who made the year unforgettable.
Junior Hayden Fink
Last day of School with seniors for me was a eye opener. Mainly because of the realization that some of my closest friends were leaving and moving on in their life. The day was full of cheers and goodbyes to teachers but for me it was goodbyes to my rides during our breaks before we marched onto football games or left for competitions. It’s goodbye to the late night talks we would have with Mrs. bitting that may or may not have gone till 11 o’clock at night. It’s goodbye to the karaoke at the back of the bus coming back from competitions and football games. Lastly it’s goodbye to the class of 2026 my favorite class other than my own of course because of the people I got a long with. I want to extend a very important goodbye to all of the concert band and marching band seniors who inspired me to be the person I am today. Now I want to say something to the upcoming seniors including me I want to say that we have to fill in their shoes and take on the roles that they had. We have to be the successors to their title of being seniors. Everyone have a great summer and I can’t wait to have a great last school year with the class of 2027.
Senior Michael Fruscella
The best part of the school year is definitely just talking to friends during class. While the teacher is lecturing or everyone is working on an assignment, whispering back and forth or passing notes makes the time go by much faster. It is always a relief when you get assigned a group project and end up in a group with your friends, turning what could have been a boring assignment into something casual and entertaining.
Even when you are supposed to be paying attention, those quiet, inside jokes and shared looks across the room make the school day feel a lot less tedious. It gives you something to look forward to between periods, knowing you have someone to complain to about the workload or joke around with during a dull lesson. Having that easy connection right in the middle of class is what makes the routine of the school year actually enjoyable.
Sophomore Hailey Harlacher
One of my most memorable experiences this year was the volleyball powderpuff tournament. I got to coach along with my two best friends in a sport I love and got to also experience winning the tournament as just sophomores. Practices were hard with stubborn boys “just wanting to play”, but it was fun. Along with getting to hangout all day, I also got to watch intense games of volleyball, which I enjoyed.
I spent my afternoons coaching the boys with my friends and in the end it was worth it. The tournament was fast paced, loud, and exciting. It was a fun day that I really enjoyed. For the next two years my team and I are aiming to win the tournament again and again. So, I would say that throughout this whole school year, the powderpuff volleyball tournament will always be memorable to me.
Senior Trevor Hu
I thought the most fun times I had this year was during Journalism with Mrs. Blair. Her captivating presence as our instructor created a smooth
learning environment for the whole class. During the class, we learned essential skills about writing and publishing while working towards articles of our own. I also felt that over the course of this class, we were able to develop our own ideas and turn them into article essays based on what we wanted to write about.
Another thing I’ve enjoyed over this year was being able to leave school early due to job credit and dual enrollment. I find leaving early allows me to have more time to myself before work and some time to relax. Furthermore, I loved being able to hang out with my friends and enjoy my senior year.
Senior Ryan Keeney
One of the most memorable parts of this year was getting to spend time with my lifelong friends. I have known most of them since preschool, so we have basically grown up together our whole lives. We have been through elementary school, middle school, and now high school together, which has made us really close. Some of my favorite memories this year were just hanging out, laughing about old memories, and making new ones together. Even simple things like driving around, getting food, or just talking always end up being fun because we know each other so well.
What makes these friendships so important to me is how long we have all stayed close. Even as we get older and start thinking about college and the future, I do not think our friendship will end after high school. We have been there for each other through so many parts of life that it feels more like family than friendship. Spending time with them this year reminded me how lucky I am to have friends like that. I know we will keep making memories together for a long time.
Junior Gavin Murphy
One memorable event for me this year was Prom. Prom was held at the Americus Hotel in Allentown. The event began at 6 p.m. and ended at 10 p.m. This year’s theme was a lantern theme, with purple and gold decorations and lanterns filling the room. During the event, a little over 200 students attended and enjoyed the night together. Music played throughout the evening filling the air and defining the start of a great night. Dinner was served
with options including steak, chicken, and pasta.
The highlight of the night took place around 8 p.m. when the Prom Queen and King were announced. During the announcement, sparklers went off, making the moment even more memorable and helping seal a successful night. For the juniors, there is still next year’s prom to look forward to, but for the seniors, their prom days have officially come to an end.
Senior Syrus Pena
Early on, my AP World History textbook felt like an unclimbable mountain mocking me from my desk. I quickly realized that pulling all nighters in an attempt to memorize centuries of global empires was a recipe for mental burnout. The various long pages of homework and classwork created a wall of academic adversity that felt completely insurmountable. I constantly battled the exhaustion of balancing a brutal curriculum with the temptation to just give up. It wasn’t the college level work that was threatening to me, but it was finding the discipline to face that heavy workload day after day.
My breakthrough happened when I stopped looking for quick fixes and committed to radical consistency. I forced myself to read five pages of my AMSCO book every single night and annotated them during my study. This steady, daily routine gradually transformed my work anxiety into a predictable, manageable habit. By refusing to break the chain, I steadily chipped away at the mountain and mastered the complex material. Beating the immense pressure of this course— as well as committing to change —proved that small, daily actions are the ultimate weapon against adversity.
Senior Agostino Randazzo
There have been many memorable moments this year. One of my favorite moments has to be when we sang happy birthday to one of my classmates in AP Calculus. It was a regular school day, or so I thought. Everyday in Calculus, we usually have a few minutes to converse with each other. After a couple minutes, one of my classmates stated how it was that classmate’s birthday. We all wanted to wish him a happy birthday, but class had to begin. Ms. Allen started class with a typical warmup. One of my classmates stated that it was that classmate’s birthday. Teacher Lisa Allen interrupted the start of the lesson to show the class a video. It was a silly video on YouTube that wished happy birthday to people named like my classmate in a silly and funny way. The video was all over the place. It screamed the name of the birthday person out of nowhere, there were dinosaurs spitting flames, clowns, silly aliens, and more. It brought everyone in the class in a good mood and made the lesson much more enjoyable. The birthday person had a very big laugh for a couple minutes and really enjoyed it. After that day, AP Calculus became more enjoyable because of the stronger connection we built with each other.
Sophomore Emma Sauvagnargues
During my sophomore year of high school there was one memory that stood out above the rest. The boys powderpuff volleyball game truly made a unique memory since that was one of the first times I had brought my camera to do sports photography. I met up with my best friend Jayden Humphries and we spent the day in the game taking photos of the teams and the match as they were competing. It’s a good memory for me because it got me more into sports photography and led me to help start officially taking pictures for Saucon Media. It was also really fun interacting with the players and the students and being able to capture the Saucon spirit and really see it through the lens.
This memory is important to me because after Powderpuff volleyball I really immersed myself into photography. Whenever I had to do an extra job for my journalism class, I would use the photos I took from a previous track meet. I bring my camera to sports events now looking forward to capturing the true Saucon spirit. Overall, I think Saucon created a special memory for me with Powderpuff volleyball and being able to be creative with photography. I will forever be grateful for the opportunity I now have to be a part of the Saucon Valley Panther Press crew.
Junior Madeline Wehr
Something very fun that happened this year is The Outsiders on Broadway. At first, it was very tiring waking up, getting to school, and then immediately getting on the bus. But, after we got to New York and started singing, I knew it was going to be fun. We learned a little bit of the song and the choreography of “Grease got a hold on you.” Then, we met actor Davis Wayne and went on our way to walk around New York City for 4 hours.
After walking around New York City, we went to the Hard Rock Hotel to eat. Then, we went to the theatre to see The Outsiders. The scenes were so detailed and cool — it seemed fake, but I knew it wasn’t. The actors did amazing and performed great even after an incident that disrupted the show. In conclusion, this is why The Outsiders on Broadway was a fun thing that I did this year.
Junior B. Wolfe
My memorable moment of the year was my experience in the school’s spring musical, The Drowsy Chaperone. In the musical, I played the part of Victor Feldzieg, a rich Broadway producer that wants to prevent his leading lady, Janet Van de Graff, from leaving Broadway to marry a man named Robert Martin. When I initially auditioned, I didn’t think I was gonna get any part, let alone the villain. I actually remember where I was when I got the news. I was at dinner with a friend, and I got a text from my friend that said “OH MY GOD! YOU GOT FELDZIEG!!”, which made me immediately check my email to see the whole cast list.
This musical was probably my favorite one I’ve done. This show helped me to get closer to friends that I knew already, and it helped me to make some new friends that I probably wouldn’t have met anywhere else. It also helped me to come out of my comfort zone, as growing up, I was very shy and to this day, I can be pretty nervous when doing certain things (like dancing and singing in front of people). I love this show, the people in it, and the memories I made while doing it. I will always remember this show.
