By AARON MARASIA
The spring sports season was just getting started with try-outs, practices and team meetings when COVID-19 shut down Jericho High School, and with it, the sports teams. With school closing in late March, players and coaches waited anxiously to hear if they would be allowed to play at all this year.
On April 20th, Jericho High School athletic director Mr. Mankowich said that, “All Athletic Directors received an email from Patrick Pizzarelli, the Executive Director of Section VIII Athletics, notifying the high schools of the cancellation of spring sports.”
Mr. Mankowich feels it was the right decision to make. He said, “It was done on a consistent basis, and no school was put in a position to make a call on their seasons by themselves.”
Players and coaches alike were devastated, but they understood the need for the season to be cancelled. Junior member of the varsity softball team Carly H. said, “The Jericho softball team had a much improved season last year, and I expected this year to be another successful season. Personally, I hope that it won’t affect my playing, and that we can continue what we started next year. Although it is sad that my high school sports career will be shortened, all I can do is work toward my senior season.”
Carly realized the season had to be cancelled due to the coronavirus because “there are much bigger issues right now than a sports season.”
Varsity baseball team member and junior Griffin W. feels similarly. He said, “I will miss the memories we make as a team and the devotion each one of us has towards the sport. We are not just a team, but a family, and it pains each one of us not being able to be with each other.”
Griffin W. was looking forward to improving his skills and connecting with teammates this season.
Varsity softball coach and English teacher Ms. D’Antonio sympathizes with the athletes’ loss of the season. She said, “I’m not going to lie, I cried. The thought that our kids aren’t going to get to play the sport they love for a season, is upsetting. I was holding out hope that maybe they would get to play in their travel or town leagues over the summer, but that doesn’t seem like it’s going to happen. As a 3 sport athlete in high school, I made some amazing memories and lasting friendships. It upsets me to think they will not get that opportunity this season. I felt especially sad for all of our seniors who won’t get that last chance to wear a Jericho jersey.”
The cancellation is especially heartbreaking for seniors, since most of them will not be playing their sports competitively in college. Senior member of the varsity tennis team Sujay A. said, “Me and my teammates are really upset about the cancellation, but I wasn’t surprised. We were going to have a really strong season and it is disappointing I can’t finish my career as a Jayhawk.”
Spring sports being cancelled is a great disappointment, but the Jericho Jayhawks will come back even stronger in the 2021 season.