ADRIAN – After 15 years the Siena Heights football program took the field one final time as the Saints played the final home football game in university history in a loss to Indiana Wesleyan on Nov. 15.
For nearly two decades Siena Heights has served as an institution of higher learning to those in the surrounding area of Adrian and beyond. Unfortunately the school announced in late June its intention to close at the end of the 2025-26 academic year due in large part to its, “financial situation, operational challenges, and long-term sustainability.”
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSiena Heights University first opened as a Catholic institution in 1919 by the Adrian Dominican Sisters and has since offered numerous classes, recently adding online programming while also working itself near the top of the rankings of universal education in the U.S. News and World Report.
A pair of football players embrace after their final home game as a Siena Heights Saint
It was announced this past June that at the end of the 2025-26 school year that Siena Heights University will close“For 105 years, Siena Heights University has been a beacon of light in a world sometimes cast in darkness,” Siena Heights president Dr. Douglas B. Palmer said in a statement. “The spirit of Siena Heights will continue long after the institution itself closes its doors because it lives in every graduate, faculty member, and staff person who has been on campus, whether in-person or online.”
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSiena Heights senior leadership cited financial strain and operational challenges, as well as difficulty regarding long-term sustainability as reasons for the University closure.
“Despite the dedication of our board, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and supporters, continuing operations beyond the coming academic year is no longer feasible,” a statement released by the University read.
What Does This Mean for Athletics?
The 2025-26 academic season will continue as usual and students can expect a regular schedule regarding athletics, residential life, spring 2026 commencement and other community events.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe 2025 Siena Heights Saints football team took full advantage of that regular schedule, having just recently finished their final season on the gridiron playing .500 ball, going 5-5 overall but dominating at home, finishing the year at 4-1 in the friendly confines of O’Laughlin Stadium.
The Siena Heights marching band plays one final time at a home football game this season“It’s just surreal man,” Siena Heights defensive end Joshua Mack of Napoleon said. “Coming here as a brotherhood, I mean I spent four years with these guys, and I wouldn’t choose any other way.”
Saturday proved to the final time O’Laughlin Stadium would be filled with the raucous crowd, the final time the parking lots would be filled with tailgate traditions and Saturday rituals brought by students, families, and the people of Adrian.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe finality of it all was not lost on the players, coaches, and fans during the game on Friday, as the clock ticked down towards the final buzzer. One more play, one more huddle, one more tackle, one more first down, it all slowly came to an end on Friday.
Although the season did not end the way team would have liked it to, a 47-16 loss to Indiana Wesleyan, the lessons learned while wearing the Saints jersey by the thousands of players throughout the years will endure forever.
Going Out on a High Note
If Siena Heights was going out, they were not about to go away quietly. A total of five Siena Heights defenders earned All-MSFA Mideast First Team honors while seven players earned Second Team honors, with three earning Honorable Mention.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLinebacker Clarke Hamilton was named the Mid-States Football Association Mideast League Defensive Player of the of the Year, leading the Saints haul of honors. Hamilton is now a three-time All-MSFA Mideast honoree, earning second team honors in 2023 and 2024.
Despite the impending closure the boys basketball kicked off their season with an impressive win over Adrian to keep the all-important Milk JugAlso earning postseason honors on defense were fellow linebacker Jalen Edwards and linemen A.J. Knox and Greg Predina.
Earning First Team all-conference honors this season on offense was wide receiver Tendaji Alexander.
Second Team offensive honors went to quarterback Braylen Himmelein, running back Jaylen Flowers, and wide out Credell Prather. On defense were defensive backs Brevin Jackson, Kieran Jackson, and Joe Nemecek. Return specialist Numehnne Gwilly was also selected for his work for the Saints.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHonorable Mention honors went to Brendan Haisenleder, Ian Furlong, and Clifford Moore Jr.
Final Goodbyes
While the final minutes were played on O’Laughlin Field, the memories and moments shared by the brothers who took the field will last forever and can never be taken away.
“I’m just incredibly proud of all the effort that was put in by everyone in the program this year,” coach Matt Kohn said. “I am so incredibly proud to be a part of this team.”
The memories the football left behind at O’Laughlin Stadium are not the only memories that the Saints will leave.
More: Siena Heights football kicks off Last Dance with come-from-behind win over Saint Francis
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOn the volleyball court the Saints say goodbye after falling to Aquinas in the WHAC Tournament quarterfinals. Siena Heights completed their final season at 13-17 overall, including an impressive 8-5 record at home.
Siena Heights senior Devyne Eisenhauer was named to the All-WHAC First Team, her third such honor. Also leaving Siena Heights on a high note were head coach Corey Ness and sophomore Allison Shaw who were selected to be the WHAC Champions of Character Team. All-WHAC honorees for the Saints include Eisenhauer, Shaw, Jessica Holsapple, Mya Krohn, Emily Hicks, Elle Peterson, and Mia Vitale.
The football and volleyball teams are not the only teams that will have to say goodbye to being Saints on the field of play. Also leaving behind their own sense of athletic and academic legacy will be members of the girls and boys basketball, boys baseball, bowling, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, track and field, wrestling, flag football, and softball.
Each team will leave behind its own memories, its own traditions, its own stamp on what it meant to be a Saint. What it meant to be a member of the blue and yellow.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementUltimately, when the time comes to shutter the doors and window one last time each individual student will leave behind what it was that personally made them a Siena Heights student.
While the final few moments of Siena Heights last year have begun, it is still far from over. There are still memories to be made, accomplishments to achieve, moments to savor. But the goodbye has begun, so from all of us, farewell Siena Heights University and thank you for teaching us all what it meant to be Saint.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Siena Heights to close at end of 2025-26 school year
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