It’s a magical senior year for the “Secret Weapon”

The first five months of her senior year have been like something from a fairy tale for Tippecanoe senior Morgan Sessions.

It all started for her back early in the football season when Sessions was crowned as the Tippecanoe Homecoming Queen, but that was just the beginning. In November, she was a huge part of the state championship volleyball team, and now, she is suiting up for her final basketball season as Tipp is off to a fast start.

Even with the volleyball season ending a month ago, she still cherishes the memories of what will always be remembered as a senior year of memories.

“It doesn’t even feel real, and it was an incredible moment,” Sessions said. “Being there, looking up at the fans was just crazy. Looking back on it, I can’t believe it has been almost a month, and it feels so long ago.”

“Just to get there in general and to have all those people watching us was so exciting, and just for everyone to be wanting the best for us was so cool to see that.”

Finishing undefeated, on top of winning the state, was another thing Sessions looks back on and cherishes on her journey.

“It was a lot of pressure, actually, in a way, just not letting ourselves down,” she said. “We wanted this so bad, and our coaches too. Howie has wanted this for so long also. Knowing that our regular season we didn’t really come to losing, but in the tournament, it was about staying composed.”

One thing she now feels is that the program will get the respect that it deserves after being slighted in the state polls, not finishing in the top five, yet beating the top three teams in Ohio throughout the tournament. The disrespect was loud.

“It felt like people were doubting us along the way, and they had no hope, and us being a public school, too, put us down, I feel like,” she said. “Just working our way there and still not being in the top three was crazy to see, but we proved ourselves.”

Her biggest role she had on the team was to be a steady server and back row player, and coach Howard Garcia always called her the Secret Weapon. She would come in and put together a string of serves, leading to Tipp usually pulling away for the victory.

“It was a good role to have, not many people have that role, so there is definitely pressure to come off the bench and serve right away, but it was cool to help my team in that way. To be the person they can count on, making it over, and for people to trust me, and also play back row.”

Now, she is part of what everyone is hoping to be a very special basketball season (more on that in the coming weeks) and is looking forward to also playing her part with the Red Devils. 

“I love it,” she said. “Looking back to last year, it was rough. We have a whole new coaching staff again this year, and the environment is so much stronger. To start off with two good wins. I am looking at us being undefeated in the league with great leaders.”

Sessions' role on the basketball team is to be a consistent shooter, make the good passes inside, and not do too much of what she is capable of. Her perimeter shooting will be huge for the program.

“It is a good role and it is almost like serving a little bit,” Session said. “I have to take every chance I get and give it my all every game. I want to use that role as an advantage and leave it all on the court.” 

Sessions has nothing but love to share with her senior teammates in both sports. Back before volleyball started, she could see it all transcend into everything she was hoping for. 

“We are so close, at the beginning, I knew this group was going to be so tight,” she said. “Nobody got on each other's nerves, and all of the seniors are great leaders.”

Sessions looks to wrap up her season in a couple of months, then decide what to do in the spring. One thing she is already certain of is her future path of going to work in cosmetology and work with her sister in the business.