Lindsay Marjanski is a high jumper and she normally likes to set the bar high.
Not this spring though. When schools started to move to remote learning during the second week of March, the South Hadley senior had an idea that she wasn’t going to step foot on a track and field before the end of the school year.
“At the beginning when we got released from school I kind of set the bar low and wasn’t very hopeful that we’d go back,” Marjanski said. “I’ve been preparing myself for the decision. It’s not one that I wanted.”
The final decision came on Friday. The MIAA voted 16-0 to cancel the spring sports season. The motion came following Gov. Charlie Baker’s call on Tuesday to remain in remote learning through the end of the school year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I was really looking forward to my last spring season of track and to have fun with it,” Marjanski said. “I understand the decision and it’s upsetting, but I understand why they did it and I’m OK with it now.”
There were similar reactions across Hampshire County.
“Hearing officially that we’re not going back to school and I’m losing my senior baseball season, it’s heartbreaking a little bit,” said J.B. Mills of Amherst Regional. “Obviously everyone’s health is way more important and that’s important, and everyone’s making the right decision in that regard.”
Many athletes were aware of the bleak situation.
“We’ve been betting that spring track would be canceled so we’ve been training for fall cross country,” Northampton senior Tobias L’Esperance said. “We’re not really surprised by this although it’s a shame. It’s the last nail in the coffin.”
The MIAA has been meeting and planning for seven weeks in the event that students return to school. Prior to this week, the organization had a plan in place for a shortened regular season and postseason, should students return by May 4. Baker’s decision on Tuesday changed that.
“While the decision of the Governor to extend school closures through the end of the school year was one many of us expected, it is still disheartening when you see the impact that it has on students and staff across the commonwealth,” MIAA Board of Directors president Jeffrey Granatino said in a statement. “It’s a decision based on better ensuring the health and well being of our students, staff and families and it was the right decision to make. At the end of the day through, it still is a tough pull to swallow for thousands of student athletes across the state who have already lost so much of their school year to this pandemic.”
The loss of the season means a lost opportunity for many athletes.
“We were hoping to make a deep run this year,” said Mills, who will play football at Rochester. “The end of the season last year was disappointing, losing on senior night and missing out on the playoffs by one game. To not get the chance to play hurts, but the circumstances, there is nothing you can do about it.”
The Easthampton softball team has been on the rise the last few seasons. The Eagles lost in the 2017 Western Massachusetts Division 2 Tournament semifinals. The previous two years the team fell short in the quarterfinals.
“I had a lot of goals that I had set and a lot of things that I wanted to try to accomplish this year,” Easthampton senior pitcher Rachael Robinson said. “It sucks that I can’t get that done and I don’t get a chance to anymore. We’re looking very strong, ready for the season, working hard, team chemistry was there.”
Robinson, who finished with 544 career strikeouts, was hoping to use the season as another stepping stone.
“It would have a been a good opportunity for that,” she said. “I think I was going to be a lot stronger and better than I was. I was focused and working really hard for the season. It would have helped me out there, but things happen.”
Athletes were doing their best to stay in shape and sharp. While Robinson has a pitching turf and a hitting net in her backyard, Marjanski moved furniture around.
“I hate not moving or doing anything,” said Marjanski, who will run track at Holy Cross. “I’ve been running and training. I actually moved my mattress from my bed into the living room and pushed the couches together and made a high jump mat. It took a lot of convincing but my mom let me do it.”
Some athletes are holding out hope that sports resumes in the summer.
The New Balance Nationals Outdoor was moved to July 16-19 in Greensboro, North Carolina. Northampton seniors L’Esperance, Benjamin Howe, Simon LaClair and Tim Jacques are hopeful they will compete in a distance relay.
“That is not necessarily out of the question,” said L’Esperance, who will run three seasons at Trinity in the fall. “We might still go to that just for fun.”
Robinson hopes to have one more summer with her travel softball team, the Western Mass. Warriors.
“I love that team so much,” she said. “I really hope I get the chance to play with them this summer.”
Mike Moran can be reached at mmoran@gazettenet.com. Follow on Twitter @mikemoranDHG.