It’s game over for spring athletes

The meets, games and matches of spring will not be played, after any hopes for even a modified season were dashed on April 21, when health and safety concerns focused on the coronavirus pandemic led athletic administrators and school superintendents in Nassau and Suffolk counties to announce the cancellation of the high school sports season.

The student-athletes who play badminton, baseball and lacrosse and run track will lose a year of not only playing a sport they love, but also the camaraderie of being on team. “It really meant a lot more than playing a game,” said Hewlett High School senior Anthony Isayev, a center fielder on the varsity baseball team. “It’s being with the same guys — it’s more like a brotherhood.”

Considered a top ballplayer by those in the know, Isayev stole 20 bases last season and had a .400 on-base percentage. Though he loves being on the diamond, his most vivid memories, he said, are of what happened after the games.

“Last year [in] our last game, we lost to Seaford in the second round [of the Nassau Class A playoffs], and it was amazing to see how the seniors reacted — and to think that was my last chance to compete,” Isayev said, adding that the last year’s end-of-season dinner was a “great environment.”

Lawrence High senior Sofia Maravilla played volleyball in the fall, but will not get to play badminton this season. “For me, it especially made me sad not to be with my teammates and people who are like family,” she said of her reaction when she learned of the cancellation. “It’s upsetting not going on that court and working as a team.”

Ryan May said he is the only Hewlett High senior who will continue his lacrosse career in college, having earned an academic scholarship to Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pa. May received the Bulldogs’ Unsung Hero Award as a sophomore, and was an All-County Honorable Mention last season as an attacker. He was also an All-Conference football player last fall, playing wide receiver and safety.

“I was upset because it was expected, but it feels different when you hear the news officially,” May said. “I just felt very unlucky not being able to experience my senior year with all my friends — he same guys I’ve played with since I was 9 years old.” Their most recent gathering was on March 13.

All three athletes maintained as much of their training regimens as they could, in the hope that there might be a season. Isayev jogged and did push-ups, pull-ups and sit-ups. Maravilla worked out every day, and May did likewise, saying he took 200 shots per day to stay ready.

“I wasn’t planning on playing in college — maybe playing club baseball,” said Isayev, adding that he wanted to thank all the high school coaches for their dedication to their players. “I won’t have that season flow, that rhythm having at bats. The next time I see live pitching I’ll be playing at Fairfield University.”

“Volleyball was an option, [but] as of now I’m not playing sports at college,” said Maravilla, adding that badminton could also be an option, depending on what college she attends. She plans on starting nursing studies at Nassau Community College this fall, and is considering moving on to either Pace University or Quinnipiac.

“Knowing that we won’t have Senior Day and be recognized for all the hard wok the last three years on varsity is devastating,” May said. “No team dinner, no more Saturday practices. I’m lucky to have four more years to play in college.”

The Section VIII athletics conference governs Nassau County, and Section XI, Suffolk County. “For the safety for our student athletes, Section VIII has made the difficult decision to cancel spring sports for our high schools and middle schools,” Pat Pizzarelli, executive director of Nassau County athletics, said. “Long Island is one of the areas most affected by this terrible pandemic, so both Section VIII and Section XI have made this very difficult decision.” Pizzarelli is a former athletic director for the Lawrence School District.

Administrators in both counties met over the course of two days last week, and agreed that it was important to act quickly. Even if public school buildings were to reopen later this spring, no sporting events will be held. Last week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo extended New York state’s stay-at-home policies through May 15, meaning that school buildings will be closed until at least that date.

“It’s very sad for the seniors, but we’re dealing with life and death,” Pizzarelli said. “We have to safeguard our students and communities. We waited as long as we possibly could to make this heartbreaking decision.”

Nassau County’s Athletic Council, which includes superintendents, principals and school and sports officials, met on April 20, and was unanimous in its decision to cancel the season. District athletic directors met the following day, and agreed.