March 25, 2020 Issue, Page 6 of 10

Page Text

Sports Page 6 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Wednesday, March 25, 2020 When the stadiums go silent: Elk City coaches react to COVID-19 Big Elk Sta- dium sits empty ona dreary, driz- zly Monday. No games, includ- ing soccer matches, will be played in Elk City ath- letic facilities until further notice, as schools are on break until at least early April. Staff photo by Don Munsch. By Don Munsch, Editor said ina text. “We just began they choose,” Merrifield those spring sports that are and have the potential to “T need them playing catch The fields, tracks and the season strongly, in great said. “They had been track- individual,” such as golf or have a very successful sea- mainly to stay in game ready courts sit empty and silent shape, great confidence. We ing their miles and sending track. son. The boys have won all shape with their arms,” he in Elk City, much like those had worked out some kinks, it to me, but now I’m not “T told my players that I three tournaments we have said in a text. “They aren’t across the country now. switched out formation - we even sureif that is allowed.I was sorry for this hiatus be- played so far. The girls have being allowed to use any of Because of the spread of were getting it! Just got our would think sunshine, fresh cause I know how hard they won two of them and placed the facilities, so it’s all an at- the coronavirus, one finds basketball players. I was air and sweating would be have worked,” Curtis said in third in the other. It will be no pings of the aluminum excited to get them and see a good thing. But we don’t a text. “I told them that I was tough if they don’t get to fin- home practice scenario.” bats at baseball and softball how they transition and exactly know how to handle hopeful that things would ish seeing what they could Boys soccer coach Josh fields, no shouts of encour- where they were going fit in. this virus and the safety of turn around, so that we could accomplish. Barnett said his team agement from parents in the The girls were all excited to our kids and community are finish out the season. I told “T’m selfish in that regard “pressing through, physical- stands, whether it’s for ath- start playing.” the most important thing, so them to remain hopeful, because I love my players so ly and mentally, and ready letes in baseball, softball or Merrifield said her team we will follow instructions too. I encouraged them to much,” she said. “However, for whatever may come. many other spring sports. was told not to have prac- and do as we are told. We stay in shape with whatever I support what our state and Western Oklahomans are re- Some Elk City High tices or be at any training fa- will all get through this to- method their parents would our country is doing to sup- silient, to say the least.” School coaches shared what cilities or weight room. gether and our love for the allow and thought was best press this virus. It will save He said players are encour- they are doing as their ath- “[ had told my girls be- game and our teams will be for them. I hope this ex- lives and that’s what is most even stronger than before.” tended break flattens the important.” aged to exercise during this letes await word on when or fore the break that I wanted whether their seasons will them to run at least a mile, Elk City tennis coach Gina curve where it will be safe Elk City softball coach hiatus, and he hopes players continue this spring. three times a week over Curtis said the team cannot to continue the season. I will Kaleb Murray said he told find solace in the game. “It’s pretty sad, especially the break, so they don’t get practice, but nothing “was be heartbroken for my play- his players they need to try “Plyometrics is a main for the seniors,” girls soc- out of shape and to do it on clearly indicated about them ers if that doesn’t happen. and do things on their own push for our players,” he cer coach Rhonda Merrifield their own time, wherever practicing on their own for They are all really talented but be smart about it. said in a text. oronavirus hits Oklahoma: We miss sports for lots of reasons By Jenni Carlson, The balls into the front yard and my first memory of the sport dence around my peers. really the point. any of it if I hadn’t played Oklahoman, Oklahoma start hitting. that became my passion. But as I came to love golf, I learned that sports wel- sports myself. City Our front yard looked In the years since, I have first in the front yard on the comes anyone who wants So, as much as I miss the The golf balls would soar westward, and across the come to love other sports. farm, then at a small but to participate and rewards majestically into the Kansas gravel road sprawled one of Spending a winter night at wonderful nine-hole course, everyone who is willing to games right now - and be- sky, then while they were our pastures. As the yard ap- The ‘Peake watching the I started to draw strength work. lieve me, I miss them im- still falling back to earth, proached the road, it dropped Thunder is great. Journey- from it. I realized ifI prac- Oh, that’s probably a bit mensely - it’s the opportu- they would disappear behind away to the road level and ing to Norman or Stillwater ticed and committed, I could Pollyannaish. Sports can be nities being missed by so the hill of the cow pasture. left a high perch perfect for for a football game on a cool get better and stand toe- prejudiced, racist and mi- many youngsters that I la- Yes, the cow pasture. golf-ball launching. autumn afternoon is grand. to-toe with kids from any- sogynistic. Cruel, too. Sports When I was a kid grow- I remember watching my Seeing titles won and re- where. can be insanely unfair from ment most. They need to feel ing up in Kansas, my family dad hit balls, but by the time cords set and goals achieved They might have newer time to time. that sense of accomplish- lived on a farm, We lived in I was 3 or 4, he had put a has been the joy of my life- clubs or nicer clothes or But the positives far out- ment, that belonging, that the house built by my great- golf club in my hands. At time. (gulp) thinner thighs, but I weigh the negatives. confidence. They need those grandfather and great-grand- first,I got to hit plastic golf But golf was my founda- could compete with them. Who knows where this mother, then lived in by my balls around the yard, then tion. That was powerful. farm girl would be without superpowers that may carry grandmother after that and wiffle golf balls, then finally Talk to me nowadays, and Even though I won a few the superpowers _ instilled them higher than they ever by my dad after that. We normal ones. I don’t remem- you might be surprised to tournaments in high school by sport. Would I be shar- thought possible. raised pigs and cows, wheat ber when Dad decided to let know I wasn’t always self- - my parents have a wooden ing stories about your favor- They need to soar like and corn, me try to launch one over confident. I could always case of medals back in Kan- ite teams? Would I be tell- those golf balls back on the It was a lot of work, but the road and into the pasture talk to adults, but kids were sas - I was never the best. ing backstories about your farm, rising into the big, when my dad had a few - and I’m sure the first few another story. I was a bit shy, Not in my classification. Not beloved athletes? I don’t spare minutes, he would were duds - but hitting golf a bit pudgy, and that didn’t in my conference. Not even know if I'd have developed wide sky and flying out of take a golf club and a few balls into the pasture became necessarily create self-confi- in my area. But that wasn’t enough self-confidence for sight. Have something to share? Send it to [email protected]