End of school year, spring sports season ‘heartbreaking’ for senior athletes

Brevan Bea has always been a three-sport athlete. 

And while his future lies on the gridiron — Bea will play football for Central Washington University next season — the Washougal High senior has always valued his time on the baseball diamond. 

To Bea, baseball is his “relaxing sport,” an opportunity to bond with friends on the field and at practice. That’s why Bea was devastated to hear that he won’t be able to take the field with his buddies one last time this spring due to the outbreak of COVID-19.

“It’s really hard,” Bea said. “I get why we’re taking all of these precautions, but it sucks for us. We always thought we’d get a little bit of season, but it is what it is. In terms of facing adversity, I see it as a challenge. This is our test. It’s something that we’ll get through sooner or later, and life will get back to normal. This helps us understand what could happen, and will prepare us for what’s to come.”

Washington Governor Jay Inslee announced earlier this month that all private and public K-12 schools in the state will remain closed through the end of the 2019-20 school year. The order included the cancellation of all extracurricular athletics and activities.

“The decision was undoubtedly a difficult one for Governor Inslee,” a news release issued by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) stated. “However, it was done so to keep the students and families of Washington safe. The WIAA executive board and the WIAA staff feel for those students around the state that have had their seasons or careers cut short. This terrible disease has not only prevented students from creating lifelong memories through competition, but it has limited the valuable lessons gained through participation in education-based athletics and activities.”

WIAA officials had previously expressed a desire holding “some sort of culminating event” for spring student-athletes if schools went back into session in May. News of the school year’s cancellation and, with it, the spring sports season, is “devastating,” said Camas High School athletic director Rory Oster. 

“For a 17-year-old student-athlete, (sports) are their world, one of the most important things in their lives,” Oster said. “It’s unthinkable. It shouldn’t happen to these kids. It just sucks. They worked so hard to compete and do great things this year. They’ll miss out on a ton, but more than anything they’ll miss out on three more months with their buddies. It’s pretty brutal.”

‘Heartbreaking’ for seniors

The decision to cancel the spring sports season was especially crushing to Camas-Washougal high school seniors, since many were waiting until their final prep year to accomplish their main athletic goals — from earning a starting spot or captaincy to qualifying for a state meet competition or even winning a state title.

“It’s heartbreaking,” said Washougal High athletic director Gary McGarvie. “The memories of walking off the court or field or track for the last time can’t be replaced. The seniors won’t get a ‘senior night’ or banquet. They won’t get a chance to say good-bye. It’s horrible. And it’s even more emotional and impactful when you come from a small town like Washougal, where the kids have grown up together and are basically brothers and sisters. For years they all thought about how awesome their senior year was going to be, and it was taken away from them.”

Camas senior Zander Samodurov, a two-time all-4A Greater St. Helens League selection, was “devastated when (he) heard the season was cancelled.”

Spending more time at home, however, has been beneficial, Jaiden Bea said. “I’m getting a lot of home projects done, spending more time with my family, finding new things to do, setting new goals and discovering new things about myself.”

Brevan Bea said his spare time is spent “always fixing things,” because “when you live on a farm, things always go wrong.” 

Washougal High senior track and field athlete Judson Mansfield recently built a pig pen for his 4-H club. And Washougal junior Skylar Bea is completing chores, taking morning walks with her grandmother and perfecting her baking skills instead of playing for the Panthers’ girls tennis team this spring.

“I’ve been doing a lot of different things,” Skylar Bea said. “I just don’t want to be bored, thinking how I could be playing tennis. Staying busy is a good way to (avoid) that.”

Some young athletes have turned to their teammates for virtual support.