Tully Talk: So much will be missed with spring sports after shutdown due to coronavirus
Although most of us realized it was inevitable, the cancellation of spring sports was a devastating blow for athletes, coaches, schools and those of us who cover high school sports.
All athletic practices and games were shuttered for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year after the CIF made the decision Friday as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
It is very disappointing because if last year was any indication, the spring season was shaping to be possibly the most successful for area athletes and squads.
There were athletes coming off CIF individual state appearances, teams poised to add to their success from last season after winning or getting to CIF Southern Section title contests, individuals looking for more All-America performances, athletes pushing to set school and CIF records and squads hoping to repeat as league champion.
But unfortunately, they won’t get that chance.
It is also a tough situation for us sports reporters, who would be up to our necks in coverage at this time of the year with spring in full competition mode.
There is a great deal I will miss with our local teams and athletes with this lost spring season.
In swimming, I will miss seeing La Cañada’s Danny Syrkin striving for more All-America, state, CIF Southern Section and Rio Hondo League success. He was poised to break multiple records this season.
Also in the pool, Maya Wilson was on her way to breaking many of the records she already holds at Burroughs High. As far as team success, the Spartans and Crescenta Valley were looking to add to their CIF championship runs of 2019.
I will miss seeing a fine crop of track and field athletes run, jump, and soar their way to success, which I’m sure would have culminated with some reaching the 102st CIF State Track and Field Championships.
There was Falcons’ Dylan Wilbur, looking to return to state in the boys’ 1,600 meters, recent Crescenta Valley transfer Mia Barnett hoping to return in the the girls’ 1,600 and 3,200 and Burbank’s Jayla Flowers looking to make it back in the girls’ triple jump.
Then there was Eli Gault-Crabb, who was inching his way to setting the prestigious Indians all-time record in the boys’ pole vault. He put himself in the No. 2 all-time spot after clearing 16 feet in early competition this season. Gault-Crabb is only behind record-holder Essa Sallinen, who set an all-time mark with a 16-4 3/4 effort in 1994.
On the team front, the Providence boys’ track and field squad will not have a chance to defend its Prep League championship.
I will miss witnessing the exploits of all-state softball pitcher Dee Dee Hernandez, who led the Falcons to the CIF Southern Section Division III championship in 2019. I was also looking forward to seeing how the Falcons would do in the playoffs after jumping to Division I. Crescenta Valley was already on its way to a superb season and looked like the move up motivated the Falcons to prove themselves.
On the softball field as well, l miss the always entertaining crosstown rivalry between Burroughs and Burbank, who were set to face one another twice in the spirited clash.
In baseball, I will miss seeing if La Cañada baseball could make a return engagement to a CIF title game and if Crescenta Valley would be able to dethrone Arcadia and win back the Pacific League crown.
I will miss following the Flintridge Prep boys’ tennis team in its quest to return to a second-straight CIF championship match.
On the golf course, I will miss seeing if the Burroughs boys’ team could win its first Pacific League title with a team rife with talent. Coach Greg Everhart felt the Indians had a very good chance at doing just that. It will also be disappointing not seeing a fine crop of area golfers going head to head for the Pacific League individual title, including returning champion JJ Nakao of Burbank, Burroughs’ Lincoln Melcher, who advanced to the CIF/Southern California Golf Assn. Southern California Boys’ Championship in 2019, and Indians’ newcomer Emilio Huerta.
I will miss the girls’ lacrosse rivalry between Glendale and Crescenta Valley, as the Nitros were looking for a third straight Pacific League championship and a another deep playoff run after getting to the Los Angeles Lacrosse Foundation Division I semifinal match a year ago.
In volleyball, I will not be able to witness the Burroughs boys’ team’s quest to capture an unprecedented 11th straight Pacific League championship, all under the direction of coach Joel Brinton. Under coach Sean Beattie, Flintridge Prep was striving for its eighth consecutive Prep League crown.
Unfortunately, some of players who were seniors this year will be moving on and we will never be able to see them in high school competition again. But some of them will return for the 2021 campaign, and I hope they will be able pick up where they left off. In addition, some will be moving on to college where we will be able to get a glimpse of them in the future.
In these tough times, that is something positive that we can all look forward to.