AD's (Rohr, Wendte, Taylor) Talk About Spring Sports Season

I  decided to reach out to all our area athletic directors and see how the coronavirus pandemic has affected the way they've faced the spring sports season.

During the spring, junior high school and high school sports could include baseball, softball, track and boys tennis. As noted on our website, I had already typed all the area high school and junior high schedules day-by-day. Our area includes, Effingham, Effingham St. Anthony, Altamont, Brownstown/St. Elmo, Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City, Cumberland, Dieterich, Neoga, Newton, Stewardson-Strasburg, South Central, Teutopolis and Windsor.

I sent an email and hopefully, all the A.D.'s received it, asking five questions and those included:

1. What all did you have to do at the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, such as canceling games, umps, etc.?

2. Did you think it would go on this long?

3. What have you found has been the hardest part of your job over this?

4. What are you doing to pass the time, projects, family time, etc.?

5. Any words of wisdom for your student/athletes?

I have already received five athletic directors responding, so each day I will put several of them with their answers online. If I haven't gotten in touch with these AD's, please forgive me. I will do my best to get in touch with them and I know they will respond because our area A.D.'s are an awesome bunch of folks that do so much behind the scenes for student/athletes.

Today's athletic directors include Brownstown/St. Elmo's Vince Rohr, Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City's Carolyn Wendte and Neoga's Mike Taylor.

VINCE ROHR (BROWNSTOWN/ST. ELMO)

1.  When we received the news, I started to make a lot of phone calls, text messages, and emails to opponents, umpires, and the media to cancel games. We also tried to come up with alternative plans and dates for when we did come back. I was also in touch with coaches about guidelines during school closure of what they could and could not do. Coaches put a plan together of how to keep their athletes in shape and ready, for when we could possibly return to games/practices. It was all about being ready and keeping everyone safe. 

2. I didn't know what to expect. At first I thought it would just last for the initial two week span. But the more I read about it and the more I watched the news, I could tell it wasn't going to be good for our athletics. Once the major sports started shutting down, it was evident this was going to be the norm for a while. 

3. It was challenging for everyone to try and plan ahead for so many different scenarios of if we return by this date then we can do this, but if we don't return until another date then we should do that. It was all up in the air so the uncertainty of it all was very challenging. The most difficult part of this whole situation though was knowing that the decision to continue games/practices was mostly out of my hand and that kids were going to miss a large chunk of their season. It was especially difficult thinking about the seniors who may not get to finish their final season. In the end, we want everyone to stay safe and healthy, but I feel for those that want to get back to routine and back to competing in the games they love. 

4. I have been staying busy during this time with work duties and family responsibilities. The local AD's have been busy trying to figure out plan A, B, & C if/when we return to sports. I have been organizing schedules/umps for future years, keeping in touch with coaches and our administration, working on the baseball fields so they are ready in case we return to play in May, planning remote learning activities for my PE classes, helping distribute breakfast, lunches, and schoolwork packets on our school distribution days at Brownstown, and other day-to-day responsibilities. On the family side of things I have been doing my best to be a first and third grade teacher for my own kids. They attend Central and South Side schools in Effingham and their teachers, Mrs. Hoover and Mrs. Wolke, have done a great job of sending assignments to keep the kids engaged and learning though the school closures. 

5. I don't know that I have any words of wisdom but I want them to know that they have a lot of support right now. They have coaches and teachers that miss them and are doing everything they can for them. As much as we all want to get back in to routine and start playing/practicing, it's more important we all do our part to stay home and keep our distance so we can return to normal sooner. Mental toughness is something we all need right now. Keep a ball in your hands and keep yourself in shape to be ready when we do return. I hope to see them all very soon!

CAROLYN WENDTE (COWDEN-HERRICK/BEECHER CITY)

1. I basically had to erase the entire calendar for that time frame. This would include sporting events including umpires, work with canceling transportation, and even banquets that were scheduled at the school. 

2. I really didn’t think it would last this long. I never thought I would see anything like this in my lifetime.

3. For me it is knowing that the spring athletes (especially the seniors) are not getting to participate in their last season.

4. I am working on next year’s activities, getting everything updated for the conference, helping with meals at the school, and working with Remote Learning with my math students.

5. Even though these are trying times and sports mean a lot in our lives, our health and safety has to come first. We cannot change things that are out of our control.

MIKE TAYLOR (NEOGA)

1. Basically we have just followed the governor's orders. We informed our coaches of the guidelines and restrictions and contacted officials.

2. At first no, but now I question if it will affect fall sports. At first I thought all the cancellations were a bunch of "knee-jerk" reactions. After seeing how other countries have been affected before it really hit the U.S., I completely understand why we have been shut down.

3. Just thinking about what the kids are missing out on, especially the seniors. I cannot imagine being in their shoes.

4. Spending a lot of time at home with my kids. We try to get outside when the weather is nice. A lot of miles have been logged on our bikes!

5. Learn how precious time is. Things you enjoy doing can be taken away from you in an instant. Moving on, when you find something you enjoy, do it to the best of your ability and never take it for granted. I think that is a lesson we all can learn.