In a recent issue of the Monitor, you read a story on how several of the student-athletes are staying in shape and ready for spring competition to hopefully resume. Now it’s the coaches turn to give their thoughts on the subject.
Cowgirl track & field coach Monty Harker feels that the stopping of the school year and the sports season was inevitable. “I just hope it’s not for the rest of the year,” he said. He has been in contact with as many of the student-athletes as he can, giving them workouts and exercises by email. “How much they’re doing is a little bit of a mystery,” said the coach. “I will say that, in the past, If I don’t give them enough to do they will find something on their own. So I think many of them are doing at least something, however, it is hard for specialty athletes to work on some things. If you don’t have access to field event facilities, it is hard for you to practice.”
He believes that the girls morale is good. “I know many of them are worried if they’ll even get a chance to compete again, but some videos I have seen show them in high spirits,” said Harker. “I know I feel worse than they probably do.” If they can start the outdoor season, Harker is expecting some very good things and maybe even the potential of a couple school records being broken. “I would just remind them when out running to make sure they’re turning left so as not to get confused when they are back on the track,” said the coach.
Cowboy track & field coach Ben Lindaman wouldn’t comment on his team during this time, only saying, “There are still too many unknowns.”
Cowgirl golf coach Jeff Meyer feels the moratorium is a sensible idea. “Having meets would just increase the possibility of the virus spreading, so putting everything on hold is good,” he said. He has been able to stay in contact with his team. “We use the Remind App, just like the school does for weather announcments,” said the coach. He feels they should resist the urge to use the course now that it is open. “I would say stay home and stay safe,” said Meyer. “Sports can wait. Your back yard at home would be the best if you want to do anything to practice.” He feels chipping could easily be done that way.
He feels team morale is good as far as he knows. When it comes to the question of either having some practice time first, or going directly into competition Meyer thinks it’s a “wait and see” deal. “It will all depend on when we are able to return to school,” he said. “We may have a shortened season, or may not have a season at all, we just have to wait.” His advice to the team, and everyone else, is to “hang in there, be smart and stay healthy.”
Cowboy golf coach Pat O’Brien admits to being disappointed, but understands and supports the decision completely. “This virus is not going away without us intervening,” he said. “I try not to worry about things I have no control over, and this is one of them. I pray that everyone follows the guidelines and stays safe. If we happen to lose one season it will not be a benefit to what we are trying to accomplish this year. But it that’s the worst thing to happen to us in our lives then we lived a pretty good one.”
He also uses email and the Remind App to stay in touch with his team. “I send them information and links to things like USGA rules, instructional videos on YouTube that I think are good and how to deal with the mental parts of the game,” said O’Brien. Since both courses (Clarmond & Oakridge) are now open, he knows his guys can get some practice on their own. “Those are public venues, so they have the right to go on there if they are available,” he said. “It’s just that I can have no face to face contact with them, so no personal instruction where I can help them. They are basically on their own.
He is pretty sure they are working on their game. “I know a few of them have been out hitting balls, putting indoors and walking the course, but other than that I’m not sure,” said O’Brien. “I really don’t want to put any undue pressure on them so that they think they should bend the rules. That’s not what we want to be about.” He does feel they are disappointed in the stoppage. “All of them I had contact with before the season were really excited about the upcoming year,” he said. “We are young this year, with very little varsity experience. We have great numbers and a lot of enthusiasm, but we could have used the preseason to learn and for me to understand who will come to the top. While we’ll have great competition, I’m not sure we’re at the right level yet.”
In that regard, O’Brien admits that his returning letterwinner has the upper hand in playing but after that he doesn’t have a clue who will join him. “We will use the time we have to see who can perform,” said the coach. He also ask for patience from everyone. “We just graduated a group that played gether for a good long time and were very successful,” said O’Brien. “This ‘could’ be the next good group, because I love what I see, so this puts us back a little. I have faith that things will work out, and I hope that they do too!”
The coaches are correct in that these student-athletes know what to do to be ready. They are smart kids, and are dedicated to their sport. I can only add that, in regards to the current pandemic, parents please remember to give your kids a hug, some words of encouragement and tell them you love them. Together, we can and will all get through this!
