For seniors, planning for college can be a giant question mark. From figuring out where to attend, what dorm and who to room with, students might find themselves scrambling to meet college deadlines. But for two groups of friends at MHS, the pressure to find a roommate was a breeze.

Seniors Marisa Hendel and Abbey Heller have been best friends since freshman year and are roommates next year at Missouri State University.

“We met freshman year through field hockey,” Heller said. “All of our friends made junior varsity so that’s how we bonded.”

Hendel and Heller continued playing field hockey through their senior year and signed with MSU in the spring. Heller based her college decision on where she could play field hockey but Hendel was reluctant.

“My first priority was my major,” Hendel said. “And once I found out I could play field hockey I picked MSU.”

Their decision to room together was obvious from the start said Heller.

“You have to room with other recruits at MSU and since were both playing the same sport we decided to give it a shot.”

Heller said she is confident that the friendship will stay strong throughout their freshman year at college.

“We don’t have a problem telling each other when we’re annoyed,” Heller said. “After five minutes we forget what we were fighting about anyway.”

Hendel said she agrees and doesn’t foresee any problems damaging their friendship unless Heller gets a boyfriend.

“Boys will be a big problem for Abbey,” Hendel said. “I just know it.”

Seniors Tim Downar and Alex Cook met in their seventh grade science class and have been best friends ever since. Next year they are rooming together at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

“We get along pretty well together didn’t want a random roommate,” Downar said.

Cook made his college decision based on Mizzou’s biochemistry major. The recreational center and business school made Downar’s decision easy he said.

The two have already started planning for their room next year.

“We plan on winning the big screen TV at senior farewell so definitely going in the room,” Cook said.

Heller and Hendel also have big plans for their room next year.

“We want our sides of the room to be identical, we’ll see how that works,” Hendel said.