Grieve End Of Spring Sports Season

GRIEVE END

OF SPRING SPORTS SEASON by Steve Gamel

Denton County players, coaches, and fans were all holding out hope that somehow — someway — the coronavirus pandemic would not mark the end of the high school spring sports schedule for this school year. Even if they weren’t able to resume until May, or even June, at least they could salvage something from this year.

Sadly, those hopes were dashed last month when the University Interscholastic League announced that they were canceling everything for the remainder of the school year. The unprecedented move came mere hours after Gov. Greg Abbott announced that all Texas schools should remain closed to in-person learning. The spring sports schedule, which includes basketball, soccer, track and field, softball, baseball, and others, had been suspended since March 16.

The original plan was to reevaluate on May 4, but a final decision had to be made sooner.

The Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools also canceled the remainder of its 2019-20 athletics schedule.

“It seems unfair that our Argyle baseball seniors don’t get the chance to lead us back to Austin,” Argyle baseball coach Ricky Griffin said in a heartfelt Twitter post on April 17. His team was hoping to win its third straight Class 4A state title but won’t get that chance. “I know it’s not the season they were hoping for, but each one of them has a special place in my heart. They have been a huge part of pushing this program to where it is. I love them.”

Griffin wasn’t the only coach or player voicing their devastation — especially for the countless seniors who learned that they have competed for the last game as a high school athlete.

“#COUGARNATION you’ll forever be my whole heart,” The Colony softball star Jayda Coleman said.

“Argyle. Over the last four years, you gave me memories that’ll last a lifetime while allowing me to grow up,” Argyle senior Alex Gonzales said on Twitter. “Sad to see my senior year and my time in red and black end so soon. Thank you to everyone who supported me along the way. I’m grateful to call this amazing town home.

“To our 13 seniors: Thank you for all you’ve given to our program,” the Guyer girls track and field Twitter account said in a statement. “We’re heartbroken for everything you didn’t get to finish. It’s been a joy to watch you wear a Guyer uniform with

pride over the past four years. We know you’re going to do great things! Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat!”

The Hebron softball team agreed.

“Lots of emotions with this announcement. Zeb, Casey, Ira, Nat, Sheridan and Dani, you may have played your last game in a Hebron uniform, but you will forever be a Hawk.”

The UIL said in a news release that it had been working on scenarios to resume sporting events. But without schools in session, activities would have to follow suit. According to the Dallas Morning News, at least 10 other states’ high school sports governing bodies, including that of athletic hotbed California, had already canceled their remaining sports events for the 2019-20 school year by April 5.

“Our highest priority during this challenging time is ensuring the health and safety of our students and communities and making progress in the containment of COVID-19 in Texas,” UIL executive director Charles Breithaupt said in a news release. “We are now turning our attention to the 2020-2021 school year.”