The spring sports season went from suspended to canceled indefinitely.
Each of Gov. Brian Kemp’s executive orders to keep Georgia public schools closed because of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic made the wait for spring sports that much longer until time finally ran out.
Kemp’s April 1 executive order to keep public schools closed for the reminder of the academic year brought a finality to the situation.
“My heart pours out to everyone affected by this necessary cancellation of spring sports due to the coronavirus pandemic,” said Gilmer High School athletic director Matt Johnson. “I feel for the senior student athletes as their career was cut short so abruptly.
“The bond formed by players is unique in so many ways, and I am proud of what all these kids accomplished. I think about the coaches who work so hard each day on and off the field, court or track to support these amazing student athletes. They truly invest everything in those kids, and I am blessed to have the privilege to work with such awesome coaches.”
Baseball, soccer, tennis and track were nearing the midpoint of their seasons, which had been greatly affected by frequent rain to that point. The golf team never played a match due to inclement weather, and the final event of the season was a track meet held March 11 at GHS.
The Times-Courier contacted 24 senior spring sports athletes via email for their reaction to the cancellation of the season and five responded.
Those who shared their thoughts included tennis seniors Josie Reece, Sarah Sheahan and Kaylee Becerra, as well as soccer seniors Catarina Tercero-Rafael and Karina Montoya-Gonzalez.
The sudden end to spring sports and classes evoked a similar response: disappointment.
“This situation has been very confusing for me,” Sheahan said. “I don’t like the fact that I’m missing out on the rest of my senior year. I really miss my classmates and my teachers. I miss playing tennis, and I miss my chorus class. I was very upset to hear that my season had been canceled.”
Spring sports take place during the last season of each academic year. Emotions usually run high as final games approach because most athletes will never take the field again. Athletes are normally able to take solace in the fact of knowing when the final game will come.
However, that was not the case this time.
“I was very sad when I heard about tennis being canceled,” Reece said. “We had barely gotten to play anyway, due to the rain, and now we can not play at all. We didn’t know our last match would be the final match of our high school career.”
Montoya-Gonzalez said, “I was devastated. I couldn’t believe that I would never get to go out on the field and play one last game with my high school team. I just want to say that I am very thankful for all my coaches, my soccer team and for everyone who has believed in me throughout my high school career.”
The cancellation of the season left athletes with no time to react.
“This whole situation has been unreal,” Becerra said. “It all happened within the blink of an eye. It feels like we are just on a break and that later on we will return back to school, even though I know that is not the case.”
Tercero-Rafael added, “I didn’t imagine that my last game would be our first region game. All this has been taken away from me and all my fellow seniors around the world. Now my parents won’t be able to walk (with me on senior night) and see me play my last high school game. It brings me to tears to say I never got my senior night for soccer and that my season was finished unexpectedly. “
While the premature end to the season has been an undesirable outcome for all involved, spring sports ended as well as they could have for GHS.
Johnson detailed Gilmer’s final events of the season, saying, “All Gilmer varsity athletic teams ended their season with a victory.
“The track boys and girls finished in first place on senior night when they faced off against Johnson High School and rival Fannin. The baseball Bobcats defeated Union, 3-2. The tennis girls beat rival Pickens 5-0, while the boys beat Pickens, 4-1. The soccer girls beat Ridgeland 4-2, and the boys were victorious versus Ridgeland, 6-0.”
Tercero-Rafael had a parting message for her younger classmates.
“One thing I would like to say to everyone still in high school is don’t take these days for granted because it only comes once and you can’t go back, so enjoy every moment while you can,” she said. “Work hard and always appreciate everything because once it’s taken away from you it leaves you broken.
“Lastly, in the end of all this, I would like to say is, ‘Once a Bobcat, always a Bobcat!’”