It wasn’t supposed to happen like this
“Half an hour ago, we were planning this meeting to let you know how the season would move forward. Now, it’s to let you know there will be no spring season.”
30 minutes after the NCAA announced the cancellation of all its championships, Fredonia’s athletics director Jerry Fisk brought the whole track team into a meeting.
Next up was softball.
As we filed out of the little classroom Fisk was holding those meetings in, softball filed in. Maybe they had an idea of what was about to happen. Maybe they didn’t.
Half an hour later, as I was hanging out with the coaching staff for what may have been the last time, I saw them leave that tiny little classroom, taking turns in embrace. There were a lot of seniors on that team.
As for track, it was just me and Kyle.
All things considered, if a season had to be lost at least it was only for the two of us. At least that’s what I keep telling myself.
I try to forget that it wasn’t supposed to happen like this.
Those two races a few weeks ago at indoor conferences weren’t supposed to be my last. I wasn’t supposed to start my post-collegiate marathon training until the summer.
But here we are.
And here is where every senior – high school or college – is.
We’re all unsure. We all miss out on our last goodbyes and our graduations. Some people will never go to a prom. Others like me will never get to have their final season in the sport they love.
It sucks.
But as much as it sucks, I’m in a privileged situation.
I can always go for a run.
In the middle of this pandemic I can run an 89-mile week. Baseball players can’t just go play ball. Neither can most other Spring sports. Lacrosse especially.
But no matter what – I can always go for a run.