A year ago I was living the dream. I just took in the 2019 NCAA Final Four and Championship game in person. I covered high school sports throughout the week, and then to top it all off, I sat on the couch all weekend long watching The Masters. It’s one of my favorite times for sports throughout the entire year. Flash forward to the present and I’m still sitting on my couch all weekend long but for a different reason.
It’s crazy what can change in a year. In 2020, there was no Final Four to enjoy. There is no Masters to look forward to this weekend, and currently, there are no spring sports to cover for the local athletes.
To say it has been a weird spring is an understatement. We’ve never really experienced anything like this before. It’s been in the back of my mind the past weeks that there most likely won’t be a spring sports season for high school athletes. That’s just the harsh reality. It never really hit me until Monday night.
Schools around the state have been turning their lights on at night as a ray of hope for athletes, students, community members, and first responders during this difficult time. I headed out to Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted High School Monday night to get a picture of the lights on for the paper this week. On the way there, I was thinking that there were so many other things I could be doing right now. On the way home, my heart was broken for these kids who might not get a senior season.
There was a good crowd of people at the high school Monday night to watch as the lights came on. Don’t worry, everyone was being responsible and trying to make the most of a tough situation. There were several HLWW athletes there, most of whom were seniors. As they sat and waited for athletic director Scott Berning to turn the lights on, they were chatting and even playing music. Then the time came. Berning flipped the switch and the lights appeared on a beautiful spring evening that brought back so many memories. As I stood with Berning for a bit, we talked about how it would be a perfect night for a football game. He couldn’t have been more right.
As the lights burst through the darkness Monday night, the athletes gathered together and let out a big cheer. It was a cool scene that I’m sure I will remember for a long time. It got even better though.
The lights were left on for 20 minutes for the Class of 2020. As time came to an end, several students took one last look at the field where many of them competed. I saw HLWW senior Gracie Mallak pressed up against the fence just taking everything in. At that moment, it hit me. I have no idea what was going through Mallak’s head but I’m sure it wasn’t easy. She was just looking at the track where she’s run so many races. It was a scene that certainly would stop someone in their tracks.
As the clock neared 9:20 p.m., the chatter and music between students came to a halt. Berning went back over to shut off the lights and it was absolutely quiet. As the lights slowly disappeared it’s the quietest I’ve ever heard a group of high schoolers surrounding a football field. A place that was meant for going crazy in support of their friends and classmates turned to a place of reflection. There was not a sound as the lights disappeared, and that’s when it hit me for real.
I kept telling Berning that I couldn’t imagine what these kids are going through.
My heart breaks for them. They might not get to play their sport this spring. They might not even get to go back to school and see their friends on a daily basis. I can’t imagine how these kids feel right now.
One of the best parts of my job is getting to know these area athletes beyond just as an athlete. I’ve been here for their entire high school careers now, and even though these are tough times right now, knowing them on a personal level, I know they will come out of this even stronger.
My heart breaks for the Class of 2020 who might not get a spring sports season as their high school athletic careers disappeared faster than the lights into the darkness Monday night. In this time of uncertainty, I want to tell those kids to go back and look at all the memories they’ve created during their high school careers. Whether it’s at school or in athletics, those memories can never be taken away. Take it from a 27-year-old who hasn’t played high school sports in almost 10 years. I still get chills when I walk into a gym or stadium to cover an event. High school sports are something special. They give us a chance to rise above ourselves at any moment. They give us memories that last a lifetime.
As the Class of 2020 waits to see what will happen next, I urge them to look back on the good times. This crazy situation can take away things going forward, but it can’t take away the memories you’ve already created. Take those memories you created and hold them dear to your heart because that will be your light to get you through the darkness.
It’s crazy how much things can change in a year. This might be one of the toughest times of your life right now. And a year from now, you could be in one of the best times in your life. Hold onto that light and we’ll get through this together.