Gov. Tim Walz extended distance learning through the end of the school year on Thursday, and with it, dashed any hopes of a spring sports season once and for all.
The Minnesota State High School League officially canceled spring sports about an hour after Walz made his announcement regarding schools.
“This difficult decision was one we had hoped we would not need to make.” MSHSL director Erich Martens said in a prepared statement. “Our work will continue in providing leadership and guidance for our member schools and will soon turn to the summer and planning for a return to participation this fall.”
Truthfully, the writing has been on the wall for awhile now as the COVID-19 crisis has continued to spread rapidly across the country. It had been more than a month since Walz shuttered schools across the state, meaning team practices and competitions never even got started.
“I think most coaches have been expecting this to come, even if we were hoping for the best,” Stillwater softball coach Bob Beedle said. “It was pretty hard to foresee us playing spring sports when we haven’t had students in the building.”
East Ridge baseball coach Brian Sprout agreed.
“You could feel it coming,” he said. “You could tell the players felt it coming, too.”
More than anything, Sprout feels for his seniors who don’t get the finish out their high school careers. East Ridge captured their first Class 4A state championship last year and now won’t get to defend it.
“They are taking it really hard, and I can understand why,” Sprout said. “They have put so much time into this program. My message to them was that it’s OK to feel that way. I don’t want them to be afraid to feel those emotions.”
“You feel really bad for those kids because it’s so much more than spring sports for them,” Beedle said. “They lose prom, graduation and all those other things that make senior year so special.”
Personally, Beedle said the lack of a spring sports season has impacted him even more than he expected. Not only has it “zapped” his energy level on a daily basis, it has taken away a chance to make lifelong memories
“As a coach, I’ve learned to embrace every year for what it is because not everyone is lucky enough to do this,” he said. “I’m towards the end of my career, and each year I lose is a big loss for me because I don’t have many left.”
