The fields remained silent this spring. Blades of grass continued to grow minus unnecessary lawn mowers. Base paths longed for cleat marks from sneakers stiff from temporary obsolescence.
Although there appears to be improvement following months of a collective state-wide quarantine, the global pandemic coldly referred to as coronavirus COVID-19 wreaked havoc with the area’s student athletes.
With graduation now in the rear-view mirror, most recent graduates echoed their initial shock, followed by despair of losing out on numerous memories forged with teammates, coaches and family. They communally lamented missed opportunities to celebrate wins, reach the postseason, impress a college scout and enjoy a post-season banquet.
All, however, was not lost.
Forced to grasp impromptu loss and learn how to alter personal plans without much warning, the following recent grads reflected on life lessons acquired from a ruthless, destructive anomaly that will never be forgotten.
“The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to not take anything for granted,” said Paul VI High School, Haddonfield, baseball player Aidan Wetzel, a parishioner of Our Lady of Hope in Blackwood who will be playing next year at Widener University. “Coming into this year, there wasn’t a doubt in my mind that I’d have my senior season. If I could go back, I’d definitely savor every moment more.”
Paul VI softball infielder Emily MacGibeny, a product of Saint Clare of Assisi Parish, Gibbstown, and Guardian Angels Regional School who next year will play for Rowan College of South Jersey, concurred.
“The most important lesson for me is to cherish every moment because it’s a blessing,” said MacGibeny. “People spend all their four years trying to get out of high school, but once you’re deprived of it, it makes you realize how much fun it really is.”
Paul VI pitcher/first baseman Emma Laliberte remembers when, during the first week of softball season, a classmate from the school yearbook staff snapped a few pictures, not exactly traditional in early March. Players were told that the pictures were taken “in case the unlikely happens and the season gets cancelled.”
Then the unlikely did, indeed, happen.
“Even though I love the game, there is more to life than it,” said Laliberte, a parishioner of Saints Peter and Paul Parish, Turnersville, who will play at DeSales University. “I have never been able to spend this much time with my family because I am always at softball, and it’s made me realize how much I will miss them in college.
“Now we are able to eat dinner all together. We watch movies and TV shows together, and we started doing family Wiffle ball games together. I have been able to get closer with my siblings.”
When Gloucester Catholic’s Maddie Burnite begins her softball career at Delaware State University in the fall, she said she will arrive with a stronger overall constitution.
“The biggest lesson from this is that sometimes things get rough, but you just have to keep going,” said Burnite, a parishioner at Saint Charles Borromeo, Sicklerville. “Life doesn’t slow down or wait for anyone.”
Bri Denner of Camden Catholic, Cherry Hill, who will continue her career at Rowan College at Burlington County, said she wishes there was a “different way” she could say goodbye to her softball sisters and mentors.
“The lesson to be learned here is that when playing a sport, take advantage of your time spent with your teammates and coaches,” said Denner. “Some days are good and some days are bad, but always appreciate the people around you because you never know when it could be your last time playing.”
When she arrives at Drew University and plays softball, Gloucester Catholic’s Madi Baldwin will mindfully slow down and enjoy the ride.
“I have truly realized how much this sport means to me and so many other people in this community,” said Baldwin, who hails from Saint Joachim Parish, Bellmawr. “It’s so important to appreciate the little things like the special people in my life that put in the time to help make me a better person in both softball and life.
“I’ve learned that the next time I step on the field, I will appreciate the game so much more than I ever have and to work much harder, because I never know when it will be my last time playing.”
Paul VI’s Morgan Fisher, a member of Saint Charles Borromeo Parish, feels similarly.
“Ever since my freshman year, I’ve been dreaming of my senior day and all the excitement of my senior season,” said Fisher, who will play at the University of New Haven. “To have all of this taken away by something that is so out of our control is mind blowing.
“I think the worst part about this is that as an athlete, I’ve been told, ‘Control what you can control,’ and this situation is beyond everyone’s control. I feel the most important lesson from this crazy tragedy is that I will never take another game for granted, because you really never know when it will be your last.”
Maddie Grubb of Bishop Eustace, Pennsauken, preserves a different point of view than most. As a starter on the basketball team during the winter, Grubb had helped Eustace advance to the state playoffs before being eliminated.
One of the program’s top softball players as a junior, Grubb decided not to play her senior year this spring so she could concentrate getting ready to play hoops at Millersville University.
“I don’t know what I would’ve done if I didn’t have the opportunity to complete my senior basketball season,” said Grubb. “I feel awful for the teams that didn’t get an opportunity to compete for a state championship or play their spring sport.
“One of the greatest lessons this pandemic has taught me is to always stay positive, never take things for granted, and play every game like it is going to be your last. This whole thing goes to show that you never know when that last game will be.”
(Contact John Knebels at jknebels@gmail.com or on Twitter @johnknebels.)
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