Uncertainty, frustration abounds as spring seasons halted

HAMPTON – Since the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has put everyone’s sports plans on hold, there is little that can be done.

But area coaches have placed trust in their athletes in hopes that there will be a season after the initial postponement until April 13.

“We’d be thrilled to start the season April 13 and give the kids a chance to compete,” new West Fork boys’ track coach and athletic director Alex Brayton said. “I really think we have a lot of excitement around our track program…more of our kids than to focus on self-improvement and getting better each day and getting better each day of the season.

“Right now, we have provided our kids with workouts to do alone at home and we trust that they will do their part and be accountable.”

Dan Aalbers, head boys track and field coach for the Bulldogs, was looking forward to the upcoming season.

“We’ve got great numbers, 53 boys, which is the biggest team I’ve ever had out,” Aalbers said. “We are well-balanced as far as sprinters, middle distance and long distance. I was really excited. When you compare early season work, we were ahead of the game – some of that was good weather – but some of it the kids had put in work in the off-season.

“We can’t go on school grounds or organize practice (right now).”

From what Brayton has heard, there has been a sense of disappointment from his Warhawks.

“Our kids are frustrated, but they understand the severity of the situation and know how important it is to keep everyone healthy,” Brayton said. “They’ve been working hard and will continue to do so. We will have great numbers out this year and we try to hold each other accountable through social media.

“They understand what it takes to succeed and we trust that they’ll stay in shape on their own for as long as they may have to.”

Aalbers said that volunteer assistant coach Steve Huling has sent out distance and middle-distance work for the week and he has sent out things for sprinters to do on their own.

“It’s more responsibility for individuals to put in the work,” Aalbers said. “We had kids who are excited about track. I think they’ll be ready to get out and get some work on their own. I would love to be around them. I’m confident that if we get back, the kids will be competitive and have done the work.”

West Fork had a boys’ 4x800 team run to 20th at the state meet after steadily improving last year. All four were poised to return (Josh Reiter, Noah Maske, Dakota Lau and Ren Heimer) and Reiter is the only senior.

“If the season starts April 13, we will have five weeks until state-qualifying meets,” Brayton said. “I think that’s plenty of time to have a quality season and am very happy the state associations haven’t ruled out the season completely at this point.

“It’s difficult to say what may come if any further delays to the season, but I trust the IHSAA and IGHSAU will make the right choices for the health of everyone involved with high school activities. It would be disappointing to lose our entire season, but there’s a bigger picture at the point and that takes precedent.”

The Bulldogs have three of their four state-qualifying shuttle hurdle relay team members returning (Matt Waddingham, Cade Klein and Wyatt Sutter). According to Aalbers, he had nine seniors, 14 juniors, 17 sophomores and 13 freshmen.

But the question is, ‘will those numbers get to compete?’

“That’s the big question,” Aalbers said. “I don’t think anyone knows. Kansas has called off (school and its season) for the rest of the year. I feel bad for the seniors if that’s a possibility, that is what happens. (I’m) trying to look at the other side of it, trying to be realistic.

“If our first meet is the district meet and the state meet is the second meet, I’d take it. I’d take anything at this point.”

However, Aalbers also says that this is a dangerous situation.

“I heard a good analogy the other day, ‘in football games, they are won in the fourth quarter, in a virus spread, whatever you do in the first quarter has the most effect on the outcome,’” Aalbers said. “I understand the measures. You have no control over it and make it the best you can.”

Golf used to delay

The golf season is a different story given the uncertainty of weather and golf meets and practices.

West Fork girls’ golf coach Mary Schulz said that this time last year because there was still a foot of snow on the ground, the team didn’t set foot on a golf course until its first meet.

“I’m just waiting for direction for what the association says,” Schulz said. “With golf, it’s hard to have a season, anyway. We were in the Wellness Center until April, so it won’t be much different. We’ll do what we can.”

She said that she had just run into the golf pro at Ridge Stone Course, the home for the Warhawks.

“His comment was, ‘yeah that the course would have opened in the next two weeks,’” Schulz said. “He didn’t indicate they weren’t going to open. Seasonal-wise, it wasn’t ready (so far).”

Schulz said the golfers can practice on their own at home, but since the Wellness Center is closed, it is difficult for them to do anything, also since she cannot meet with the golfers in person, according to the association rules.

“Golf season isn’t our main concern,” Schulz said, “with the academics the kids’ need.”

She did say that it was a tough situation for her seniors. Among those who were expected to return for the Warhawks are Mariah Steenhard, Kylie Laudner, Kalli Trewin and Hailey McCoy-Munger.

“I feel bad for them (the seniors) I talked to them at one of the last basketball games of the season,” Schulz said. “They were really looking forward to this season. Some of my older girls were looking to make improvement, I have five of six who were coming back. It’s going to be really disappointing, but it’s out of our hands.”

No start yet for tennis

As for Bulldog tennis, boys’ coach Jim Davies said he hadn’t had any contact with his team other than a pre-season meeting in order to get contact information and that he would not according to state requirements.

“I have not sent them any specific workouts, but would encourage them to continue any fitness programs they are already doing,” Davies said. “I hope members of my team follow social distancing and the 10 people-and-under requirements as outlined by federal, state and local government and agencies.

“Once we are allowed to practice, we will do the best we can to quickly determine varsity positions. I have a good idea based on last year who will play where.”

The Bulldogs had two varsity players (Cole Walker and David Whipple) returning and six others who competed on JV, with four seniors expected.

Davies added that he would be disappointed if the season is called off completely.

“We will do something for the seniors (as a send-off),” Davies said. “I have not had the opportunity to talk with any of the seniors about missing part or all of the season.”

Note: Some coaches declined or did not respond to a request for an interview for this story