Senior Athletes Share Thoughts on Losing Final Season to Coronavirus

The outbreak of the coronavirus and the advent of social distancing has resulted in a great deal of change and even loss across college campuses. Among the casualties, the spring 2020 seasons for all sports teams. And while that might not be of much concern to underclassmen, it is to senior athletes who lost their final college season to COVID-19.

Among those students at Bluefield College: Carleek Owens, a senior member of the men’s volleyball team who said not being able to play his final college season has been very disappointing.

“It feels like our last season was snatched away and none of us knew the last game we played would be the last,” Owens said about not being able to prepare for that final game. “Being a senior, it all just feels unfinished, and we really did not get closure. We did not get to have our Senior Night, and that was something I was looking forward to.”

Alex Durón, another senior men’s volleyball player, said that losing his final season was difficult and that there were a lot of unfinished moments. He said the worst part was when the team first learned it would not be finishing the 2020 season.

“As seniors, it was heartbreaking news,” Duron said about hearing the news of a canceled season. “My junior year was a short volleyball season for me after having my ACL reconstruction surgery. I have worked hard this year to be able to play and to get back to where I needed to be.”

But despite being ready, Duron’s senior season was cut short. As a result, he will never have the opportunity complete a full volleyball season during his time at Bluefield College. Like Duron, Austin Eatmon said that losing the season to the coronavirus seemed “unfair.” He said that he will miss his teammates and all the memories they made.

“The cross-county team has wanted a track team for a very long time,” Eatmon said. “When we finally get one, the season is cut short. All of us are really upset that it didn’t last long.”

Like many other senior athletes, Eatmon said that since he’s graduating this spring he doesn’t plan on returning for another year of play.

“I won’t have another season,” he said. “I won’t have another chance to set records. I have worked so hard sharpening my skills during and outside of practice. It is simply just not fair.”

Carly Bailey, a senior women’s softball player, shared the same disappointment. She said losing the 2020 season felt like seniors didn’t get a choice.

“I feel awful not being able to play again,” Bailey said. “We worked so hard to get to this point. We didn’t know that we wouldn’t be able to play again and to perform our best in our last season.”

Alfonso Alvarez, head coach for the men’s volleyball team, expressed sympathy for the senior athletes. He said that as coaches they can plan and look forward to another season, but the seniors won’t have that opportunity, which is sad and disappointing.

“My heart goes out to the seniors that were not able to finish what they started,” Coach Alvarez said. “They missed out on accomplishing their goals and their festivities such as Senior Night.”