Season Interrupted: Elianna Reyes nearly lost far more than a season
Throughout the spring, The Times will interview high school seniors whose athletic careers were cut short by the coronavirus outbreak.
Name: Elianna Reyes
School: Eagle Rock
Sport: Softball, outfielder
Key stats: Hit 12 home runs in 2019, had six home runs in ’20
Fall plans: Will attend San Diego State and major in microbiology.
A look at the high school sport standouts whose seasons were cut short by the coronavirus outbreak.
On the season being canceled:
“I was very sad. I worked basically my whole life for my senior season, finally finish my childhood and go on. It sucks. I put in so much work and time, so many tears and sweat.”
On how her life was changed by coronavirus:
“I tested positive for the coronavirus a month ago, me and my mom. My mom had the worst of the symptoms. She made the whole family get tested. I never got any symptoms. The only thing that did happen I couldn’t smell or taste. It was scary. I could have lost my mom. It made me grateful for everything I have.”
On the George Floyd protests:
“I’m Hispanic. This whole movement Black Lives Matter I fully support it. It’s so much bigger than just black lives and the police. It’s for all minority groups and how they’re treated.”
On her life without sports:
“I just turned 18. I’ve finally been able to see what being an adult is, how much responsibility it takes and what you have to do to make it in life.”
The San Pedro softball player says she has learned from the pandemic “definitely to not take life for granted.” She’s headed to Bethune-Cookman University.
On the new things she’s discovered with her free time:
“I started drawing. I always used to draw in third grade. I like it.”
On lessons for the class of 2020:
“They be more appreciative. Any little thing they will find a deeper meaning.”
Video interviews of each athlete can be found at latimes.com/sports/highschool.
Get our high school sports newsletter
Prep Rally is devoted to the SoCal high school sports experience, bringing you scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
