Pandemic Halted Many Athletes’ Careers

By Gabe Perry
Staff writer
IG: gabep_24

March 13, 2020.

A day that will go down in history.

It all started with an extended spring break because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Little did everyone know, that extended spring break would continue as schools canceled classes in person for the rest of the year. In addition, it put a halt to all spring sports for high schools and colleges.

“My freshman year of high school was canceled due to COVID,” sophomore baseball player Trenton Roehler said. “It had a minor impact, but it sucked because as a freshman I was super excited to finally get to play for my high school and then it was delayed a year.”

Sports like baseball and track were canceled due to the quarantine rules that were put in place because of the pandemic.

“I was at practice getting ready for our first game the next day when the whole season got canceled within 15 minutes,” said sophomore Jack Gardner. “It first started with our jamboree, then two weeks, then the whole season … It took away an entire season from us, and it also altered how we could play the game when we got back the next year. We had to wear thin masks that covered basically our whole face.”

Many athletes’ recruiting was put on halt, because they did not have a senior season of their sport. But, this taught many people how to get work in on their own, and find ways to still get better even though many places were shut down. 

“It ultimately taught me how to work even when I didn’t have to. Me and my dad would throw a lot together during that time and I found ways to lift at my house since gyms were closed.” Roehler said “It definitely taught me good lessons on how to make the most in bad situations and to try to get better everyday even when no one is watching and no one is forcing you to work.”

“It shut down all the gyms and training facilities that I went to. So I had to find a way to get those things on my own.” Gardner said. “Me and my dad built a gym in our garage and built our own batting cage in my backyard as well.”

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