NRHEG spring coaches remark on impact of lost season
By ELI LUTGENS
Editor
Senior year is special. A player’s final season, for any sport, activity, or school event is special. This year’s seniors will not get their final song, their final at-bats, or of their other last insert-name-here moments. That said, the Star Eagle reached out to the coaches of NRHEG spring sports to get their perspective on the lost season.
The feeling from the coaches was a sense of understanding. “It’s disappointing to say the least, but it would have been a much greater disappointment if someone had gotten sick,” remarked clay target team head coach Dan Sorum. “I had hoped for some time that we could have rescued the season. The league (MN High School Clay Target League) even put together guidelines for a modified season that we could be using. But in the end I didn't think it was proper to ignore the MSHSL ruling.”
Sorum was not the only understanding coach. “I feel bad for our seniors,” said NRHEG track coach Duey Ferber. “I understand the whole concept of the stay-at-home order.”
The impact on the players is reflected and felt abundantly by the coaching staff as well. According to Ferber, “I'm doing O.K. I miss the kids and the relationships you build when you compete together.”
This track season would have been the first coaching opportunity in this sport at NRHEG for Miles Otsot and Marc Kruger. Marc Lee, the new head baseball coach, will also have to wait a year for his first high school head coaching opportunity.
It’s hard to speak for what other players or coaches are going through during these unfortunate times.” said Sorum. “I personally can't speak for the other coaches, although in our conversations they were pretty accepting of what was going on. For me, it is definitely some milestones and expectations that will not be realized. I would imagine for the players it is definitely a feeling of loss.”
Luckily for the clay target team, the majority of shooters are not seniors. The majority will not forfeit their last season. According to Sorum, “We had 53 athletes signed up, including a number of new shooters, but now we will never see how they would have done. If there is one bright side it is that all but two of our athletes can return next year, so at least they did not see their career end this way.”
It’s hard to imagine how the seasons would have gone for the respective springs sports, but there is room for speculation. “The girls were ready to make some noise,” remarked Ferber. “We were in prime position to three-peat in the conference on the boys’ side as well.”
As for the clay target team, they were coming off an incredible season last year. The NRHEG clay target team has consistently performed well and been one of the strongest competitors in the conference. “It was going to be a very exciting season for the team,” said Sorum. “We were looking forward to what would have been our 10th season as a team in a league that is only about 13 years old. We had high hopes of defending our back-to-back conference championships and as a team we have a goal to win state in a couple of years.”
NRHEG is resilient and so are its sports teams and participants. “If there is one thing I can say about the clay target team, it is that we have a very strong following with excellent parental and community support,” said Sorum. “We do have a fall league as well, so hopefully by the time September rolls around the nation has a grip on this disease and we can return to the trap range ready and able to go.”
Regarding the future of their program, Sorum remains confident that players will stay invested in the sport. “We could possibly see some of the new shooters decide next year not to try again, but to be honest I don't see many players making that call,” remarked Sorum. “I imagine we will be just as active and with the same level of support we see every season.”
Sorum’s message to the seniors is simple. “I can’t imagine what it feels like to have your last season taken away from you. One of them has been shooting with us for over five years. The one positive note for these kids with regards to this sport vs others is this: while most of us who are athletes in high school never get to lace up the cleats, put on the uniform, or step into the batter's box again, at least these kids can enjoy shooting clay targets for their entire life. It is one sport that goes on despite ability and without the need for a college scholarship.”
Losing this class of seniors will not be easy for anyone. The effect it has on competition will be felt next year, but Ferber is confident in the track team’s underclassmen. “We have a bunch of underclassmen that will pick up the slack next year,” said Ferber. “I have complete faith that we will come back with good numbers and interest in track and field.”
To keep in touch with players during this spring, the track and field team has been meeting weekly through Google Chat. According to Ferber, his main message to students is to remain positive and stay safe.
Sports are a social experience. Track especially so, according to Ferber. “The students miss it,” he said. Track is such a social sport. We not only make relationships with our teammates, we make friendships with other teams. The seniors are going to feel like we had unfinished business on the track.”
Overall, Ferber’s message is a positive one. Reminding students, players, staff, and parents to remain positive. “Keep your heads held high,” was Ferber’s message to departing seniors. “We have accomplished things in the boys’ program that have never been done at NRHEG. Remember the good times and all the fun that was had.”