None of the more than 200 Southern New Hampshire University winter and spring student-athletes that were still competing thought their seasons would draw to a close March 12. But no one could have foreseen the spread of COVID-19 forcing the Northeast-10 Conference to suspend competition until April 13 or the NCAA needing to cancel all winter and spring championships later that day. In keeping with state and federal public health guidelines, the NE10 extended its suspension through the end of the spring season of competition and canceled spring championships six days later on March 18. The NCAA approved a blanket waiver for all student-athletes participating in spring sports to be able to extend their eligibility for an extra year, but, depending on circumstances surrounding each individual student-athlete, the seniors may have not just seen their seasons cut short, but their entire careers suddenly wrapped up. While most people's thoughts were with the players and coaches whose seasons had just abruptly ended, everyone felt for the seniors that might not step foot on the field, court, green or stage again. With enough time passing for sadness to begin moving toward acceptance, we thought we would check in with our seniors from each affected team and let them, in their own words, talk about how they felt when they heard the news, how they have been keeping busy and what might be next. In our first installment, we hear from softball senior pitcher, Maddy Barone.
March 12, 2020 will forever go down as a date senior-college-athletes will never forget.
We were in Florida for our Spring-Training trip and we had an off day. We all went our separate ways to spend time with family and friends. At this point, all we knew was classes were moved online, but the season was still on.
11:38 a.m.: I received a phone call from our assistant coach. "Everyone needs to be back to the house by 3 p.m. and make sure everyone knows." Those words stuck in my head. Our trip was cut short and we were going home. Our flight was at 8:30 p.m.
Our senior group message exploded. The five of us didn't know how to feel. All we could think was, "is this the end?" Another senior and I were both at the same pool. We cried - a lot - in front of strangers. We composed ourselves, tried to stay positive, and made the most of our last couple hours with our family before we went home.
1:20 p.m.: "NE10 athletic activity has been put on hold until April 13. No practice or games." We cried. I broke down and couldn't even talk, because it was over. We were going home and really home this time, not just back to SNHU. We went back to the house and packed our stuff. The five of us cried with each other and when we stopped, it wouldn't be long until we were reminded of what was going on.
Everyone kept telling us, "it's good they haven't canceled the season completely." We held on to that as much as we could and stayed positive.
4:16 p.m.: "NCAA cancels remaining winter and spring championships." Coach pulled the five of us in at the airport to tell us. More tears. Within five hours, we had lost half of our senior year and the end goal we had all been working towards. We knew it was just a matter of time before it was all over.
Once we arrived home, the team went its separate ways. I went back home and had to start grocery shopping for my family, who was still in Florida, because we didn't know what was going to happen. Time passed and I kept hope that there was still a chance of some type of season - even just one more game.
March 17, 2020. 12:32 p.m.: "NE10 cancels the season." All that positivity and hope we all held in our hearts was broken. It was officially over.
It's a weird feeling. For my whole life I have devoted so much time to softball and it consumed everything. It took up weekends, it gave me my best friends and it shaped the person I have become. I knew the time would come when I would be hanging up my cleats and putting my glove into storage, but I was ready for that to be in two more months. I especially did not expect it to end like this.
That week had to have been the hardest week for senior athletes. Social media was filled with friends and opponents saying goodbye to the sports they had loved. Typically, when a season ends for a senior, they look back on what they would have done differently in their final game. The difference between those seniors and us, is we didn't know it was our last game until it was too late. We all expected to have a month-and-a-half more of games. We think back on all the times we complained about having to go to practice or lift and now we wish we could just do it one more time. All I have felt, since everything fell apart, is heartbreak.
Regarding another year of eligibility, I don't know how to feel. I think it is amazing that the NCAA has announced that they will be allowing this, but it is a lot to think about. I would love to be able to step foot on the field again, have a senior day, and play with my teammates, but it is a lot. It is another year of on-campus classes, another year of stress on your body and another year of stress on your mind. It is hard being a student-athlete. I am not saying no and I am not saying yes; I am saying I honestly do not know.
SNHU Softball will always hold a special place in my heart. It has given me life-long friends. The athletes, the coaches and the program is amazing, and I am glad I decided to spend my last four years in it. I would highly recommend it to anyone who is interested. I wouldn't have traded my last four years at SNHU for anything.
As of right now, like many student-athletes, I am home and trying to keep myself occupied. I am working on my schoolwork online and it is an adjustment. You must stay up to date with everything and set aside time to get work done or you'll get behind fast. You aren't in the classroom with the rest of the students, being reminded every day that you have schoolwork; you are home and must keep reminding yourself you aren't on vacation. When you aren't supposed to be leaving your house and going anywhere, you must make yourself busy in ways you would never have thought of. I have been trying to help with projects around the house or else I'll end up eating all the food we have bought to stock-up.
I am forever thankful. Thankful for my family, friends, coaches, past teammates, SNHU teammates and, especially, softball.
-Maddy Barone
