How Centre County high school athletes are coping as COVID-19 puts their seasons on hold
In effort to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, sporting events from the high school to professional level have been canceled, nonessential business and activity centers have shuttered and students are being kept home from school across the nation.
While the PIAA has only postponed and not yet canceled its winter championships for boys’ and girls’ basketball and Class 2A swimming, it has still left state qualifiers feeling defeated.
“We don’t really know where to go from here,” Penns Valley swimmer Audrey Duck said. “It hasn’t happened to any of us or our coaches so we don’t really know what to do now that all of the pools are closed down.”
Duck, a senior, was set to compete in the 200-yard medley relay at the PIAA Swimming and Diving Championships last Saturday, but found out she might not get that opportunity. The PIAA announced its decision Thursday to postpone all winter championships and spring practices for two weeks, then reassess the situation once that period passes.
In the meantime, Duck and plenty of other athletes across the state now have to find innovative ways to train and stay in shape, in case the championships are rescheduled.
The limbo isn’t limited to winter sports, either. Spring sports are also up in the air as practices are banned with Gov. Tom Wolf’s decision to close all K-12 schools until at least March 25. During that time, schools have also closed their gyms, pools and workout facilities as the country heads into unprecedented territory with the rapid spread of COVID-19..
The planned reassessment for all sports is just over a week away, but Duck isn’t optimistic she’ll get a chance to compete. Still, she’s proud of what her and her teammates have done this season.
“We placed second at districts,” she said. “A lot of my teammates placed first to go to states and our relay almost broke a district record. I just keep reminding my teammates to reflect on that. We’re seeing that you don’t always get those chances.”
She and other seniors were preparing for one last competition at the state level among their athletic peers, but instead could see their high school careers come to an abrupt end.
For now, they’re trying their best to stay in shape for a potential shot at a state gold medal.
“A lot of us are doing things at home to stay in shape,” Duck said. “Even if that’s just running around in our backyard. But without being in the pool, it’s a long shot to be in our best shape for states.”
Seniors aren’t the only competitors disappointed about possibly seeing their seasons come to an end. Bald Eagle Area freshman swimmer Alaina Cane could see her first year in high school end with a whimper after becoming the first swimmer in school history to earn the opportunity to compete in the state championships.
The freshman is doing her best to stay upbeat as she navigates uncharted waters.
“I still have hope for states,” Cane said. “Me and a few friends on the Bellefonte team were hanging out and the coach came over and said it was postponed. It’s been very hectic.”
The freshman has done her best to stay positive about the state of the championships and is doing her best to do whatever she can to be ready for a potential shot at gold, including quick workouts when she can’t find anything to occupy herself.
“I’m still training and doing some dry land stuff,” she said. “I do crunches or anything I can do to stay in shape.”
Cane is hopeful her season won’t end without a shot to compete at the PIAA championships, but she knows there’s a chance that won’t happen.
Even so, she’s not focusing on herself.
The Bald Eagle Area freshman can’t help but think of all of the seniors, like Duck, who might miss out on closure.
“It’s terrible that there are people who may not be able to achieve things they want to achieve because they’re graduating,” she said.
The difficulties don’t end with winter sports.
After Gov. Wolf’s Monday announcement, the PIAA took an extra step to ensure players stay safe and aren’t gathering unofficially to work on their skills as a team by also banning unofficial of “captains’ practices.” The decision has brought the spring practice season for sports like baseball, softball an track and field to a halt.
“The intent of this is to limit people gathering together to minimize the potential spread of the coronavirus,” the PIAA’s statement read. “We have been informed that some schools’ sport teams may be organizing captains’ practices or informal workouts offsite. It’s our position this is contrary to the intent of the governor’s order and these activities are not permitted.”
Bald Eagle head coach Don Lucas, who led his team to the PIAA Class 3A Softball Championship game last year, is hoping to pick up where his team left off soon but knows this is uncharted territory.
Lucas said he feels most for his seniors.
“I’ve never dealt with anything like this,” he said. “It’s pretty frustrating for all, especially the seniors. I think that’s the toughest part.”
Philipsburg-Osceola head baseball coach knows it’s frustrating, but understands why these measures are being taken.
“Trying to hold practice or workouts is against what we’re trying to do,” Doug Sankey said. “Which is trying to stay away from each other. It’s just high school baseball. I still feel bad for the kids. You see thousands of kids across all sports losing their senior years. I feel bad for those kids. To lose your senior year, I can’t imagine that.”
This story was originally published March 18, 2020 at 4:42 PM.
