Spring sports canceled

The fate of the spring sports season was sealed last Wednesday.

Gov. Brian Kemp ordered the closure of all K-12 public schools for the remainder of the academic year because of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. The order put an end to all home runs, goals and postseason aspirations for athletes.

The following day, April 2, Georgia High School Association executive director Dr. Robin Hines said in a press release, “It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that all GHSA activities and sports are canceled for the 2019-2020 school year. 

“I especially want to commend the graduating seniors who have not only missed most of the spring season but prom, senior nights, awards ceremonies, possibly graduation, and spent the last few months away from their friends and classmates. Our seniors have a great deal to be proud of and while this is not the way any of us wanted it to end, I want to thank them for a job well done.”

Gilmer Schools have been closed since Monday, March 16. Kemp’s original order locked school doors for two weeks. Closures were later extended through April 24 before last week’s announcement. 

With much of the season already lost, GHS athletic director Matt Johnson had been in contact with nearby schools to discuss possible ways for athletes to take the field once more. Those plans were wiped out following Kemp’s latest announcement.

“I think we all saw it coming,” Johnson said. “I was glad for the closure to finally be verbalized. We expected and anticipated it, but at the same time, it was very disappointing. We had an athletic director meeting to try and throw some ideas out there. At that time, we were hoping to resume some sort of normal activity. In light of this and it taken through the end of the school year, there’s absolutely no way we will be able to do that.”

“At this point,  we’re all about recognizing our senior athletes and that’s what we’re going to start with right now.”

Starting next week, GHS will recognize senior athletes on its Facebook page, according to Johnson.

Reaction from coaches

Prior the season’s cancellation, Gilmer High’s spring coaches communicated with athletes via texts, emails and online to ensure they were staying in shape while addressing pertinent needs in regard to the pandemic.

GHS Lady Cat soccer head coach April Nicholson discussed the latest news and its impact.

“I am broken-hearted about the turn of events this season has taken,” she said. “As a coaching unit, the four of us (including assistant Josh Fountain and Bobcat coaches Simon Phipps and Taylor Johnstone) had spent a lot of time watching film and gathering information on the other teams in our region. 

“We had the potential to be region champions or region runners-up — a first in school history. That would have led to hosting the first round of state playoffs — another first for soccer. This group of seniors have qualified for state playoffs every year up until now, and I am devastated that they had to leave so much unfinished with almost no closure.”

Phipps said, “I am heartbroken, not for me, but for the kids, especially the seniors. As I said before, we as a group had been practicing really hard and had just started to turn the corner as performances go. We had won our first region game easily and were on track to win a few more. We would have qualified for region, probably in the third position. 

“All of that is gone, finished. I take some comfort in the fact that we did not lose to (perennial powers) Southeast Whitfield or Northwest Whitfield this year. According to the region record, we are in second place, but nothing, nothing can replace the hurt of losing the sport I love.”

Track head coach Josh Snider believes the situation will build character and resilience. 

“It is difficult news to hear, especially for our seniors,” he said. “We have an amazing group of seniors, juniors, sophomores and freshmen who have been committed to our program and going after region titles. 

“Sports do, however, teach more than wins and losses. The young adults on our team are the type who will rise above adversity and will eventually be the future of our community. I am beyond grateful to have had the opportunity to coach these athletes, some for four years. Our seniors will be missed. To God be the glory.”

More from the GHSA

Hines noted that some had inquired about a fifth year of athletic eligibility for students due to the pandemic.  

“There are no plans to grant an additional year,” he said. “GHSA activities and sports are education-based and exist as an extension of the classroom. The culmination of all activities of a student is to lead to graduation and this will have taken place for our seniors. This is not the situation any of us would like to be in but the eight-semester rule will remain in effect.”

The GHSA will continue to monitor the situation and make decisions as more information becomes available. All sports related activities remain prohibited.

“Moving forward to this summer, there is not enough information to make decisions at this time,” Hines said. “I am concerned about the summer, as well as the fall. I am hoping for the best, but there is no information available that would allow for any decision regarding when practices and workouts will be allowed. There are no GHSA activities or practices allowed until further notice.

“Again, this is not what anyone hoped for, and I appreciate your continued support during this difficult time.”