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Boys tennis, girls softball and rugby coaches reflect on lost season

For hundreds of high school athletes participating in a spring sport at Fallbrook Union High School, this is a difficult time.

Some have spent as long as a decade preparing for their senior season in the sports they love. And for most of those seniors, the cancellation of the 2020 spring season means they will never officially compete in that sport again.

Considering just more than 7% of all high school athletes nationwide compete in a varsity sport in college and less than 2% at the Division I level, you can certainly understand why the CIF San Diego Section's announcement April 3 hit them hard.

Village News asked coaches to tell us a little about how the student-athletes are coping with the news.

Girls Softball

Head coach Hannah Stahler said she was heartbroken for the girls on her team.

"I know how much softball means to our players and coaches," she said. "I especially felt for our seniors who would not get to play out their final high school season. The field is a home away from home for us, so the news hit us all pretty hard."

Senior Right fielder Amy Pierson will be attending Orange Coast College and is unsure on whether she will play in college, while third baseman Jaylyn Leeman will head to Palomar College and is not sure whether she will play or not, Stahler said.

"I feel sad for the seniors," she said. "Senior year of high school is so special and it hurts to see so many aspects of their final year of high school be taken away from them. That being said, it is necessary to practice social distancing for the well-being of all of the players and staff."

The coach said the rest of the team was hurt as well.

"They were heartbroken as well," Stahler said. "A lot of our girls have played softball for the majority of their lives and the idea that we could not play was and is upsetting.

"As student-athletes, it can be hard to complete schoolwork, play softball, and find time to spend with family. I believe the positive that came from this event is the ability to spend more time with their families."

Boys Tennis

Head coach William Lenaway was not surprised by the decision to cancel the season.

"I was expecting the news and had already come to terms," he said. "I had already warned my players that this was a real possibility and the decision was not in our hands, so there was no point in worrying about it coming. Just wait and see what happens."

He said the team was understanding when the announcement came down.

"My athletes were understanding, at least the ones I have spoken to," Lenaway said. "I think they saw it coming as well. The school communications were making it pretty obvious that this would last a while.

"I am sure the seniors are more disappointed than the other players that still have another season. My team is very junior heavy, so they are staying positive with the thought that they still have another year."

Doubles player Anthony Vazquez is Lenaway's only senior and he said he won't be playing tennis in college.

When asked if there was anything positive about the season being canceled, Lenaway's answer was mixed.

"From the standpoint of athletics, no," he said. "From the standpoint of teaching teenagers to have some perspective about what happens in this world, absolutely. I think they get the idea that a lost high school athletic season is inconsequential when compared to the effect this pandemic is having on our society and those families that are losing loved ones."

Girls Rugby

Fallbrook Girls Rugby Club head coach Craig Pinnell said, because they are a club team, there is hope for a summer season. Still, when the news first came down, he was disappointed.

"During that first week leading up to our first club game it rained, and we practiced in the wet, missed a practice day, as well as missed some players because of sickness, including myself being sick," he said. "Initially we were relieved that we had more time to practice our new combinations for our first club games and even asked players to continue training, especially fitness and ball skills. Obviously, this quickly led to disappointment after realizing that the normal club season would not continue.

"We do continue to hold out hope for a summer season, but I think the reality is that the seniors have probably played their last seasons."

FGRC does have two seniors that will play Division I college rugby. Hooker Amanda Ware will play at Lindenwood University and Fullback Abbey Savin (Great Oak High School) will play at Dartmouth College.

Senior Loosehead Prop Grace Cockroft (Great Oak High School) and flyhalf Shelby Tippin have not yet committed to playing rugby in college, as of press time, but both are talented enough to play at most college teams in the country.

"Other than being very disappointed, senior players have not offered their thoughts on the situation," Pinnell said. "We did luckily have a successful high school 15s season where all seniors had the opportunity to play and shine as well as mentor the younger players. The LA 7s (tournament) also offered all players the chance to play an abbreviated 7s season where they could adapt to the faster game as a group."

The rest of the team, Pinnell said, are keeping hope alive.

"Players have been itching to play again and keep asking what the rugby union are planning for the future, when and if this situation normalizes," he said.

Pinnell said he thinks he and the team has found some perspective in all of this.

"I think that realizing how little time we actually have to enjoy something we love has really been enforced," he said. "We really have to take advantage of the time we have and give our best each week, always practicing and playing like it's our last game. I think seniors may have realized this more than others, with the added responsibility of mentoring younger players in the game and the club ethos. This is a life lesson that hopefully learned now will benefit them in future endeavors."

Jeff Pack can be reached by email at [email protected].

 

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