2020 season lost to COVID-19; MHSAA to make final ruling Wednesday

With the fate of high school athletics already hanging in the balance due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, Governor Tate Reeves ordering schools to stay closed throughout the remainder of the semester is essentially the kiss of death for all spring sports.

Gulfport High School Athletic Director Bryan Caldwell said, "Well, unfortunately I think the Governor's decision was inevitable.

I think it's the right one in terms of public safety.

But as far as athletics is concerned and our student-athletes, I'm disappointed and frankly I'm sad."

- during the aftermath of - hurricane katrina, back in- 2005... i made a choice... a- choice not to return to the st.- stanislaus basketball team.

- i don't think i would make that- same choice again... but at the- time... my head and my heart...- just weren't in it.

- school was out for more than tw- months... but i still had a - choice.

- unfortunately... for thousands- of student-athletes, across - the state of mississippi... the- don't have a choice.- their choice was made for them,- today... by a virus... that - continues to re-define the worl- of sports... as we- know it.- - nat ---> "we're also going to ask educators - to prepare plans for classes in- the summer or early fall."

With the fate of high school- athletics already hanging - in the balance, due to the on-- going corona-virus pandemic...- governor tate reeves ordering - schools to stay closed, - throughout the remainder of the- semester... is essentially the- kiss of death... for all spring- sports.

- "well, unfortunately i think th governor's decision was - inevitable.

I think it's- the right one in terms of publi- safety.

But as far as athletics- is concerned and our- - - - student-athletes, i'm - disappointed and frankly i'm- sad."

The mississippi high school - activities association held - out hope as long as possible...- but now... it's only a matter o- - - - time.

The m-h-s-a-a executive - committee is scheduled to - make its final decision, on - wednesday... and according to m- h-s-a-a rules... the suspension- of athletics and activities wil- be- in place... as long as schools- are closed.

- "well, i appreciate the mhsaa waiting as long as they could t- make the final- decision.

And i know for a fact- that they had come up with- contingency plans of- what we might be able to do had- we been able to return to schoo- in mid-april."

The previous suspension of all- competition through april - 17th... would've given new life- to the spring sports... with- un-finished business.

- instead... it's a lost 20-20- season, for the likes of- baseball... softball... - powerlifting... golf... - tennis... - track and field... and archery.- so now what...- "well, i think it's the million dollar question that a lot of - coaches have on their minds - right now is what does this loo- like moving forward?

I received- a text from our head- football coach this afternoon - asking how this affects the fal- sports, and i don't - - - - know the answer to that.

I don'- think anybody does."

Fall sports have every reason t- remain optimistic about a - relative- return to normalcy, when things- get to that point... but- it's hard to say the same for - the thousands of seniors, - affected by this decision...- across the magnolia state.- "well, the worst part for me is the affect that it's had on our- senior class.

I don't - think i appreciated that when - this first happened.

But then a- it became more an - more apparent that we were not- going to be able to finish out- our spring sports seasons,- - - - it really hit me right between- the eyes that it's over for tha- group of kids."

On average... the grim reality- is that 93 percent of those out- going student-athletes... won't- get the chance to play, at the- next level.

- and without the closure that- comes with senior night...- wearing this experience as a- badge of honor... is the only..- next- best thing.

- "well, i think it's easy to be philosophical about this and- tell them they're learning- - - - a very valuable lesson about- perseverance and bouncing back,- and that's all true, but- it still doesn't take away the- hurt.

They're a part of history- and they're going to look - back and be able to tell their- kids - like our great, great, - grandparents talked - about the depression - we were - part of unprecedented - circumstances.

And- we battled through it."

- - - - as an example... gulfport high- school has 31 seniors - participating in spring - sports... and with more than 50- public- and private high schools, acros- the state... we