The following article was written by Madison Ingram, a Bowling Green High School graduate in her senior year at Westminster College in Fulton, MO.
For 20 minutes and 20 seconds beginning at 8:20 p.m., on Friday, April 10, bright lights cut through crisp air on high school tracks and ball fields across the state and throughout the nation, as senior athletes observed seasons that never arrived.
The movement started on social media and was observed by area high schools last week. Seniors walked onto the empty ball fields and tracks, attempted to maintain social distancing from their teammates, and took that time to reflect.
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“Come on Mad!”
The encouragement rings out as I take a deep breath and look at the runners on first and second base. The wind is blowing fiercely, and I need one out to end the game. I scan for my father, who I find standing leaned against a brick building, shielding himself from the cold. I step on the mound and my catcher signals for a screwball, my best pitch.
“Don’t think.”
I repeat to myself as I prepare to throw the game-ending pitch. A soft, one-hop ground ball is hit right back to me. I field the ground ball cleanly and throw the ball to first base for the last out.
As a college senior I recently have had to deal with many unexpected challenges. When I played what would end up being the last softball game of my season, I had no idea that I would never take the field with my team again. After a poor performance the week prior to my final game, I was looking for redemption. On the bus ride to my last game, I watched an interview that was conducted with St. Louis Cardinals ace, Jack Flaherty. In the interview Flaherty described what his “Don’t Think” motto meant to him. This was something that stuck with me and prepared me to compete.
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On April 10, at 8:20 p.m., the lights were shining at Bowling Green High School. The stands were empty, the fields were quiet. Seniors stepped on the field and track for the last time as a high school athlete, the last time they will ever be hold the title of “student athlete.” For 20 minutes and 20 seconds, none of that mattered. For that time, the seniors had their senior season.
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Bowling Green Head Baseball Coach Dean Streed drug the dirt and lined the baseball field for Friday night’s event. A night under the stars to commemorate four years of hard work and dedication. The coach watched his athletes run the bases, throw the ball, and close the chapter to their high school athletic careers.
“I can't imagine the hurt from having their dreams and opportunities taken from them. At least the athletes got a little closure,” said Streed.
In the weeks leading up to the cancellation of Spring sports, athletes were practicing on their own. They were expecting a season, they were expecting competition, they were expecting a Senior night.
“Cherish every minute like it’s your last. You never know when it’s going to be that one last time when you finally lace up your cleats, step on a lined field, see the lights, or smell the leather of your glove,” explained Streed.
His advice to athletes applies to every sport – life is unpredictable. The most important thing to take away from this situation is to use their toughness and determination created through sports.
“For those who lost their season, use that toughness and determination sports created and use it towards another passion of yours. Take off full stride with it, to excel and never settle,” added the coach.
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Throughout my years of being an athlete, I received many words of advice. I read many books on psychological theories and the mind set of professional athletes. I looked to shape myself as leader, teammate and athlete. Through all my reading and research, no piece of information has been truer to my experience; “Play every game like it is your last.”
My father told me this many times as I was growing up. I would sit in the backseat of the car on my way home from a game and it seemed like every time we’d talk, this is the quote he would use.
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To all the high school seniors, I understand your pain. I know the sorrow and the hole in your heart. The fear that you’re missing out, the lack of closure, the “what ifs” of things you wished you would have done or would be doing. I know the feeling and I know that words won’t fix things, but only time will heal. While this may not be the ending you wanted, take this time to better develop yourself and reach out to others. This experience will only help you grow and teaches a life lesson to not take time for granted. Together you can and will get through this.
Article by Madison Ingram