Senior recognition night is a big night for seniors, but it was really special for senior Mary Vargo, who has been on the varsity team since her freshman year.
“I’ve looked forward to senior night since my freshman year, so it was really cool that I had a good game and we won,” Vargo said.
Vargo ended the game in a very memorable way.
“I hit a three right before I got subbed out,” Vargo said. “It was a surreal moment to be able to walk off after that.”
Vargo was introduced to basketball at a young age.
“Growing up with three brothers, I was always around sports, and basketball was one of them,” she said.
Vargo said that many people have been influential in her basketball career, but her AAU coach, Mark Bernotas, sticks out to her.
“Coach Bernotas always pushes me to be the best version of myself,” Vargo said.
Vargo said she has gained some valuable lessons from basketball.
“Basketball has taught me that hard work pays off. It also makes you learn to keep pushing through challenges,” Vargo said.
This has been a big year for Vargo and the Highlanders. They made WPIAL playoffs and won their first game. Now they are preparing for their first-round state playoff game against Cathedral Prep, which will be played at 1 p.m. Saturday at Cathedral Prep in Erie.
The girls have been focusing on their transition game in their practices leading up to Saturday’s game.
“We have been doing a lot of fastbreak drills to prepare for Cathedral Prep,” Vargo said.
The regular season, meanwhile, had its highlights as well. Vargo’s favorite moment came from the final matchup between Baldwin and Thomas Jefferson.
“TJ was a top two section team, so it was huge we were able to beat them, and it made it even better that Jules Ott made a buzzer-beater game winner,” she said.
Teammate Lynsey Bernotas, who is Mark Bernotas’s daughter, said Vargo really showed her leadership in the loss to Penn-Trafford.
“Mary took over the game against Penn-Trafford with all of her energy and how focused she was,” Bernotas said. “She showed that she is a leader whether we are winning or losing, and she always has a positive mindset.
Bernotas believes Vargo is a perfect teammate to learn from.
“She is always cheering for everyone and making sure that we are all good,” Bernotas said.
Junior Bella Niles agreed.
“Mary is the teammate to make everyone else step up,” Niles said. “If someone is not playing hard or making the same mistakes, she will push you to do better.”
Bernotas said that happens in practice as well.
“Every time Mary noticed one of us being lazy or not trying in practice, she would immediately bring us all back up,” Bernotas said.
