Oceanside athletic director reacts to 'heartbreaking' decision to cancel spring sports

Oceanside School District Athletic Director Jeff Risener had one word to describe the cancelation of the spring sports season: “heartbreaking.”

“It's really heartbreaking for the student-athletes,” he said. “You can't imagine what they must be feeling. Kids go through their lifetimes in sports preparing for seasons, and they get themselves in physical shape, mental shape and get ready to be involved in an athletic season, and then to have this taken away, it's just heartbreaking for them and my heart goes out to them.”

Any hopes for even a modified season were dashed April 21 when health and safety concerns led athletic administrators and school superintendents in Nassau and Suffolk counties to announce the cancelation of the spring sports season.

“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,” Nassau County Executive Director Pat Pizzarelli said. “Long Island is one of the areas most affected by this terrible pandemic so both Section VIII (Nassau) and Section XI (Suffolk) have made this very difficult decision.”

While Risener expressed disappointment over the decision, he said it was important to put the health and safety of students first. He added that he was holding out hope that the district would be able to participate in a modified season, but he understood the decision to cancel spring sports.

Risener said he also felt sorry for seniors who will not be able to participate in their final varsity season at the high school level.

“When you get to high school, the varsity level, at the senior level, it's the culmination of all that hard work that they put in previously, so my heart goes out to them,” he said, “but Oceanside kids are strong, they stay strong and going forward, they will remain strong and they will have bright futures ahead of them, whether it's in athletics or not athletics.”

Risener also noted that there is a large support system in place in Oceanside schools to help the students deal with disappointment, including their peers, coaches, guidance counselors, administrators and others, and that the most important support system in place in the athletes' families.

Administrators in Nassau and Suffolk met over a 24-hour span beginning April 20 and felt it was important to react sooner as opposed to later. Even if public schools reopen, no sporting events will be held. A week earlier, 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 are 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 officials, met the night of April 20 and was unanimous in its decision. Athletic Directors met the following morning and were in total agreement.

Risener expressed hope that things would return to normal soon, and said until then, the student-athletes will succeed in other ways. “Kids are tough,” he said. “We'll get through this.”