The lost spring seniors: COVID-19's impact on Sumter, Clarendon, Lee high school athletes, Part IX

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Senior athletes in spring sports have lost out on most of their final high school seasons because of the coronavirus, so The Sumter Item wanted to hear from them about what that lost spring means to them. The Item will be running this series over the next several editions to give them a voice during their lost spring.

Michael Love – Lakewood baseball

“Losing my senior season has been pretty hard so far. It sucks to have something you’ve been looking forward to and working hard preparing for just taken away from you within a blink of an eye. I have come to terms with it, however, and am glad to have spent these last 2 years playing at Lakewood under Coach Delavan and along with a great group of teammates. I’m going to miss all the fun times we’ve had. I will always cherish my time as a Gator and look forward to what God has in store for my next 2 years of college ball.”

Jakira Weeks – Manning softball

“Losing my spring sport season feels like a missed opportunity, softball is more than just a game. I don’t know what hurts the most, the fact that we’ll never know the feeling of taking our team to the playoffs or the feeling of having your family cheer you on for your senior night.”

Isabella Harris – Laurence Manning track

“This is the final year, Senior Year. What can you say though. If I had the opportunity to repeat senior year, I would. But then I began to realize that it’s better to look at all the opportunities, games, wins, loses, laughs and tears that God did allow us to have in past seasons. I loved throwing for Laurence Manning Academy. I had the absolute best coaches that anyone could ask for. They pushed me to become a better athlete and I think that is one of the things that I will miss most. As I sit here thinking about what to say, it’s difficult to express how much I really will miss these meets. I gained so many friendships and bonds that will last a lifetime. Yes, I do absolutely miss track season, but it seems as if this chapter in the Class of 2020 students’ lives has ended sooner than what we intended. With that being said, don’t worry you guys. God has plan, we may not know exactly what it is yet. But He has one in place.”

Conner Vealey  - Crestwood baseball

"Losing my senior baseball season really affected me, but I know it was for the safety of everyone. But it was my last time playing, and it kind of taught me not to take things for granted in life."

Xavier Boney Lee Central track

“Losing my spring track season really meant a lot to me because as this being my senior year I wanted to make sure I put everything else that I had in me out on the track this year. Missing out on practicing with my teammates, meeting new people at different track meets, everything the season had to bring. It just feels frustrating knowing that I could’ve did better last year in 2019 if it not been for the tragic car accident I was involved in, and I now cannot prove it this year 2020!”