Last week, LHSAA (Louisiana High School Athletic Association) put an end to spring sports for the 2019-20 school year due to the coronavirus (COVID-19). This week it is anticipated Governor John Bel Edwards is going to end the school year. These two decisions will affect the future of students, graduating students and student athletes.
Three of Allen Parish’s athletic directors agree that everything is up in the air, and as decisions are made regarding the future of education and athletes, plans will have to be put into place on how everyone will move forward.
Bret Fuselier, Kinder High; Durell Peloquin, Oberlin High; and Destin Dieterich, Oakdale High; agree everything is up in the air because they have never dealt with something like this. Each said, “there are a lot of unanswered questions.”
Fuselier said this is uncharted territory for everyone. From the first day of the governor’s decision to close schools, no one has been on campus.
“This is something I have never experienced in my lifetime; none of us have,” Peloquin said.
For many athletes this was their last year of high school spring sports. It was their time to shine.
In Kinder, Fuselier said the school’s baseball team was coming off a state championship, and its softball team had made it to the playoffs last year. “The boys were looking to defend their title,” he said. “I feel for the kids.”
Peloquin said college athletes will be able to decide if they want to play another year at the college level but graduating high school student athletes don’t have that ability. They are going to move on, and if they want to play at the collegiate level, they will be competing against more athletes vying for the same positions with fewer spots to fill.
All three coaches think of those students who didn’t get a chance to shine in spring sports. Coach Dieterich said, “For our seniors, I am significantly saddened by the cancellation of the 2020 spring sports’ seasons. It is tragically unfair. Most everyone’s high school athletic career ends in defeat and disappointment. It’s almost a rite of passage. That moment is something that athletes never forget. That’s just the way it is. We take positive life lessons from that, become a better person, a better competitor, and move on to the next chapter in our lifelong journey.”
The closure of school and end of the spring sports also affects football for the following school year. Many schools use a spring football program to prepare for the next school year.
Fuselier said, “We’re all in the same boat here.” He said discussions about the future are ongoing but no decisions have been made. They will be waiting to see if LHSAA makes any changes in the future.
“And the safety of students is our number one concern.” Peloquin said in relation to spring football, “We use these 10 days of practice and scrimmage to identify certain student athletes, and how they can benefit our offensive and defensive teams. He also noted physicals have not been done.”
So as decisions are made, eductors and coaches will be faced with a different set of problems as they navigate new waters in education and athletics.
“It hurts the non-athletes too,” Dieterich said. “The excitement of the last few months of high school are unforgettable. The cheerful ceremonies, grateful endings, tearful goodbyes – they didn’t get these. They will never get to miss the things they never got, and that’s unfortunate,” Dieterich said. “I truly hope that one day life pitches them a grand slam home run that will somehow make up for this blown call dealt to them. “
The coaches urged all students to stay in touch with their administrators and counselors to help them move forward. And the coaches are there for their athletes to answer questions and try to help them in their next journey.
“Especially seniors,” Peloquin added. “Stay in touch. Under classmen, be aware of the situation as it unfolds.”
As decisions are made, educators and coaches will have more information. They will be able to answer questions on how to navigate the issues being created by COVID-19. As information arrives, they will share it with the community.
For now, everything stands still. The coaches encourage students to be safe and follow guidelines. Answers will come, and everyone will move forward.
