Devastating blow for Melrose athletes, seniors
Published April 24, 2020
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—The announcement from Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker on Tuesday that the state’s schools will remain closed for the 2019-20 academic year and students will continue remote learning has likely served as a death knell to any hope for a high school spring sports season.
Initially, Governor Baker announced on March 25 that school would tentatively return May 4, and it was a date that many students had their hopes on. This decision by Baker comes less than a week after New Hampshire opted for remote learning for the rest of the academic year and the New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association canceled their season.
The MIAA, to their credit, had alternate start dates set up since the closure of schools in mid-March: first March 28 and then May 4, in accordance with the governor’s directives. As the May 4 date drew near, and Massachusetts saw a surge of COVID-19 cases and became the new national “hot spot”, it was becoming clear that a May 4 return wasn’t doable. But that’s the date the MIAA was using to salvage a spring season and now they are likely to honor the governor’s wishes and will abandon all plans to conduct a high school athletic season. Timing is everything and in this case, timing was unforgiving. Generally speaking, the MIAA will not run a sports season without student-athletes in school.
The MIAA released a quote on Tuesday via Twitter immediately following the governor’s announcement: “Difficult news received from Governor Baker today. A formal [MIAA] BOD statement regarding the status of the 2020 spring sports will be provided by week’s end.” They are also expected to meet on May 4 to make things formal and talk future.
The Middlesex League had a tentative schedule prepared in coordination with Athletic Directors which saw the revised season run from May 11-June 12 and had all Middlesex League teams playing each other (”ML 12”). This schedule, shared to the Melrose Weekly News, was well organized and seemingly beneficial to student-athletes as it also worked around events like proms. Playoffs were to have taken place around June 12 and wrapping up at the end of the month.
A few local coaches bore the brunt of the news on Tuesday. Melrose High varsity softball coach Kelly O’Neill is dealing with five seniors and four captains who are devastated at the news. “This was a big year for them: two of our girls are committed to playing college softball, and for four of them this was their primary sport. Softball is their life. They’re depressed about it.” Melrose was set to be led by senior captains Grace Solomon (will play at Clark University) and Becky Dumont (will play at University of New England) Sofia George, Ella Ruby and senior returner Mary Kate Mahoney.
Melrose varsity tennis coach Matt Williams was preparing for tryouts around March 13 before the world stopped. The coach of a 5-time straight league champion Red Raider tennis team was expecting another winning season, but will have to wait until next year. His immediate thoughts are with his three senior captains, Zac Zibaitis, Tyler Janzen and Eli Coleman. “This is hard for them, they just wanted another chance to get out there and compete as seniors and as captains. All three are fine leaders. And I feel terrible for also our juniors too because overall this is a big year for them.”
At least Melrose High student-athletes will know that their coaches, AD and the folks at the MIAA were ready to give them a season they could be proud of. It’s of some comfort, no doubt.
“I was impressed with how Melrose High itself and the league at large prepared themselves for this,” says Williams. “They tried to keep the season alive and I give them credit for it.”
Coach O’Neill wants her players to know that this is only a bump in the road for a long and successful journey. “I told the girls that the memories they’ve made on the field will always stay with them. Their stories begin here, not end.”