By BRAD BAUGHMAN, for The Democrat
Brown County High School spring sports coaches and athletes are accustomed to dealing with adversity, usually in the form of weather. Delays, postponements, reschedulings and cancellations due to rain, cold, sleet and snow play havoc with the spring schedule.
The prospect of losing more than half a season or having the entire season canceled is what athletes and coaches are facing now, and it has absolutely nothing to do with Indiana weather.
COVID-19 has had unprecedented ramifications on the educational process, including extracurricular activities such as sports. Spring sports at Brown County High School have been set back twice and may be in jeopardy of being lost altogether.
When the NCAA canceled the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, as well as all spring sports, it was only a matter of time before similar decisions concerning high school sports would follow.
Locally, a decision was made that would push the high school spring sports season back to Monday, April 6. When Governor Eric Holcomb later announced that all Indiana schools would be closed until Friday, May 1, the IHSAA decided to cancel the boys basketball state tournament series.
Soon after that determination, the IHSAA announced that schools could resume, or in some cases, begin their spring sports season on May 1, and reduced the number of practices required for an athlete to compete from 10 to five.
After meeting with his coaches, Brown County High School Athletic Director Mark Bruner is confident they will handle the delay and return-to-play in a positive manner. “I feel the coaching staff is ready to move forward when they get the green light,” Bruner said.
Of all the spring sports contested at the high school level in Indiana, track and field had the earliest starting date, Feb. 17. “We were able to get four weeks of our season started, so we were able to get two indoor meets completed prior to the delay,” said boys varsity track coach Kirk Wrightsman.
Several Brown County runners performed well in those two meets, well enough that Wrightsman felt they would have competed in the indoor state finals scheduled for March 28. However, the cancellation of that meet denied them the opportunity.
Jay Myers, varsity girls track coach, expressed similar sentiments. “We were already able to establish a solid routine and even were able to get the mats out and practice outdoors. It was beginning to feel like we were getting into the swing of the season.”
The softball team officially began practicing March 9, and coach Kevin Greve’s squad was able to get five practices in before the season was halted.
With 10 seniors and a junior in her final year on the roster, the Eagles were poised to vie for the conference and sectional softball championships this season, two achievements that eluded them last year. The team ended the 2019 season with an impressive record of 19 wins and four losses and was ranked as high as second in the state 3A polls.
“Best case scenario has us back at practice by May 1 and the season taking off as normal from there,” said Greve. “All those gains made in open gyms and practices are non-existent. The girls will need to be ready to hit the ground running.”
The other three spring sports, baseball, girls tennis and boys golf, were not officially scheduled to start their seasons until March 16, so those coaches have yet to meet their squads for their first practice.
Following the golf schedule as it is now, the Eagles would have one match before competing in the WIC championships and then four more matches before competing in the IHSAA sectional. Sprinkled in those four weeks would be a dozen or so practices.
Coaches agree that the seniors will be the hardest hit. “No doubt, the seniors are going to feel this more. They stare at the possibility of losing their final competitive season and also the last nine weeks of a memorable senior year of school,” said Greve.
Wrightsman shared the same feelings. “I feel for those seniors that won’t get these opportunities again. Unlike college, these kids can’t come back for a potential fifth year. As a coach, you can’t sit there and tell them you know how they feel, because you don’t.”
“It’s definitely unfortunate for the upperclassmen and seniors, but it can also serve as a reminder that anything can happen at any time,” added Myers.
Taylor Poling, senior softball player, speaks for all spring athletes when she says, “It has been devastating to all of the spring sports athletes. I know multiple people who have worked very hard in the off-season to prepare for this spring, but may not get the opportunity to show how hard they have worked.”
Of course, all coaches are keenly aware of the scenario that entails a complete cancellation of the season, and they have a genuine understanding of why that decision might be made. “We could experience what all college and university athletic programs are experiencing and have our seasons canceled. Hopefully, it doesn’t get to that point, but when we’re talking about the safety and lives of people, sports has to take a back seat,” Wrightsman said.
Olivia Baughman, senior member of the tennis team, has tried to prepare herself for both scenarios. “I’m sad about losing most of my senior season of tennis. The tennis team is like another family to me, and not getting to make memories with them is heartbreaking. I hope it will be possible to have a shortened season, but if not, I totally understand that because safety comes first for everyone,” she said.
Like Baughman, softball senior Aubrey Hollander would love to see some portion of the season restored so she and her fellow seniors could enjoy the competition and camaraderie one last time. “Since we are such a big senior group and have been playing together since sixth grade, we wanted to make this year special. So, even having the opportunity to play a few games would mean so incredibly much,” Hollander said.
Despite the delays and the possibility of losing the season altogether, athletes and coaches have reason to remain optimistic that some part of the season might be saved.
“We are very encouraged that the spring season has not been canceled at this time. While this will be a modified season, we are very encouraged that there is a real possibility for some sort of season to be salvaged,” said Laura Hammack, superintendent of schools.
How this will all play out, nobody knows. But one thing is certain: There are many life lessons to be processed here.
“Athletics is a great teacher for the tough lessons of life. Sometimes things aren’t fair. Sometimes we compete knowing that our chances are small. We learn about ourselves through adversity. We become better through adversity,” said Thom Miller, varsity girls tennis coach.
Miller, a veteran coach, knows and embraces the value that competition affords high school athletes. “Competing builds strength, resilience, grit, drive and passion. Right now, we need those qualities more than ever.”
While the waiting and wondering during these strange and uncharted times continue, Bruner refuses to let any negativity creep in. “At this point, I feel it is very important for BCHS athletes to stay positive and upbeat. We are going to get our chance to step on the field, track, court or course. We just need to be positive and hope for the best!” he said.
Meanwhile, coaches and athletes alike will be looking for that green light.
