Let me guess, you’re reading this story while sitting at home knowing you can’t leave or interact with other people face-to-face due to the life-changing virus we are calling “COVID -19”?
For most people, this is exactly how they have been spending their past few weeks. The quarantine is making people do anything to add some fun and interesting events to their day now that most of their usual activities—especially spring sports—are on hold.
“I’ve been so bored that I flat out dyed my hair looking for something to do. I’m now completely blonde. Along with watching Netflix every day, this is all I’ve done,” confessed junior Natalie Priest.
For most people this has been the common theme: Netflix, eating, online school work, and puzzles. In other words, complete boredom.
Like most schools in the state, Beaver Area High School officially shut down March 13. Beaver Area athletes have no practices or games while additionally are being kept from the games they love. Student athletes, especially seniors, are devastated considering their seasons have been canceled all together.
Junior softball player Anna Blum said, “I haven’t seen the team in awhile, and I miss them, the practices, and the sport in general—a lot.”
This is a new situation for everyone, so it’s impossible to say what the outcome will be. What we do know is that there are major changes in place. For example, students are now participating in school online from home.
“COVID-19 has affected me so much because I can’t see my friends or run track which has been so difficult and upsetting. I’m trying my best to stay positive though. My family and I have played a lot of games and watched a lot of movies to pass the time. I never thought I’d say this, but I miss school,” said junior Sydney Cavett.
The common advice that has been given to the community is to wash your hands frequently, stay inside, and socially distance yourself from others, and if you aren’t feeling well, get tested and then quarantine at home for at least two weeks. If these basic rules are followed, a difference can be made, but only if everyone follows these guidelines.
For people who don’t play sports or participate in extracurricular activities, these rules don’t make a huge difference in their lives. But for those who play sports, their lives have been completely flipped upside-down.
“The virus is making me miss out on the track season and getting new personal records. I wanted to get better this season, but now I am stuck at home,” said sophomore Sara Majors.
One big disappointment that has happened to a sports team was Beaver Area girls’ basketball season being cut short. The team made it all the way to the PIAA state quarterfinals and were just two games away from making it to Hershey for a state championship game which would have been a Beaver Area first.
“It stinks not being able to finish out a season with your team. Especially when we just started to play better and were pushing ourselves harder than ever before to get a state championship. We still have next year, but we will miss our senior [Kristi Buckenheimer]. The worst part is not knowing what the outcome would have been. We could have been state champs, but now we will never know,” said sophomore starter Payton List.
As of now Beaver Area’s track season is canceled along with baseball, softball, and boys’ tennis. The official date of when sports may start up again is undetermined. It looks like the fall season is athletes’ only hope. There are plenty of unknowns in this whole situation considering nothing like this has happened in any of our lifetimes.
“It’s very frustrating, especially for those of us who have been working so hard for so long. As a senior the fact that my last season, and my year in general, is stripped away is really upsetting. I’m just trying to stay hopeful . . . ” said senior runner Bailey O’Leary.
With the world being thrown for a loop, do your part. Wash your hands, be smart, and STAY HOME!