‘What we could’ve done’: Schultz feels for seniors who could have season stripped away

PRIEST RIVER — During spring break, Mark Schultz walked the baseball field at Priest River High. Schultz looked at the outdoor cage that had a tear in the netting from the team’s last practice on March 16 and realized the Spartans may never get a chance to step on the field again this season.

“It’s almost so surreal you can’t believe it,” the Priest River baseball coach said.

Schultz along with every other coach and high school athlete in the state are waiting for the Idaho High School Activities Association to officially announce the cancellation of the spring sports season. But that announcement will be put on hold for at least another week.

Following the Idaho State Board of Education’s decision Monday to essentially close all school buildings in the state for the rest of the academic year, the IHSAA was planning to discuss canceling the season all together at its board meeting Wednesday. However, the State Board left the door open for local school districts in the state to reopen schools if they meet the board’s yet-to-be determined criteria so the IHSAA will wait until next Monday when the board lays out the criteria.

Despite the delay, Schultz realizes a cancellation is in sight and feels for the seven seniors on the team who have been with the Spartans since they were freshmen and worked so hard throughout the course of their careers.

“I feel for all seniors across the nation not just ours,” Schultz said.

Priest River had high hopes coming into 2020 after making it to state last season. With a core of experienced seniors and a solid nucleus of underclassmen, the Spartans were looking to take the next step. Now it looks like they will never get the chance to.

“To get that taken away is heartbreaking,” Schultz said.

When Schultz informed the team on March 16 that the season was postponed, they were “extremely disappointed.” Despite the news, the whole team still participated in that final day of practice.

“They all showed up so that tells you what kind of group of kids they are ... we have a pretty committed group,” Schultz said.

Schultz has been able to stay in contact with his players over this break and sent them reminders to stay in shape and get outside and play catch while also keeping their social distance. Schultz admitted that it is difficult for his players to find an open place to practice with the high school facilities locked down and the limited public park area in Priest River, but he trusts the kids are doing whatever they can to stay prepared for a potential season.

Schultz knows the move to cancel the spring season would be done to ensure the safety of all high school athletes, but it will be tough to swallow.

“It’s not going to sink in for a while,” he said.

Schultz has enjoyed watching his seniors grow on and off the field over the past few years and found one silver lining they can hold with them for the rest of their lives — they went to state as juniors.

Schultz said the worst part about this situation is when he sees his seniors from this team 10 years down the road and has to talk to them about “what we could’ve done.”

“That question will never be answered,” he said.