The inevitable news that the spring sports season would eventually never happen due to the coronavirus pandemic became official Thursday, April 9. Following Gov. Tom Wolf’s announcement that schools would be closed for the rest of the year, the PIAA followed suit by ending hope of resuming the interrupted winter championships and ceasing any spring sports.

“Today’s decision by the PIAA Board of Directors was difficult for everyone. Their thoughts remain on the thousands of student-athletes, coaches, officials and family members affected by this decision,” said PIAA Executive Director Dr. Robert A. Lombardi through a press release. “However, the Board’s position reflects a steadfast priority of keeping our student-athletes, officials and member schools’ staffs and their communities safe, while following the guidelines provided by the Governor, the Department of Health and the Department of Education.

“We had maintained hope for a continuation of our winter championships and an abbreviated spring season to help bring a sense of normalcy to our communities. As we navigate through this difficult time we need to remember the lessons that interscholastic athletics has taught us: cooperation, patience, sacrifice, responsibility, respect and perseverance.”

District 11 Chairman Bob Hartman acknowledged that the news was always the most realistic option, but one that he hoped would have been able to change over time.

Unfortunately, the circumstances never materialized for that.

“It certainly wasn’t a good day when we got the news and it hasn’t really felt any better since,” said Hartman. “We want to provide an opportunity for kids to compete and enjoy themselves, but ultimately this decision was inevitable. That doesn’t make it easier for anyone, but the priority is the safety for our students and community.”

Canceling the remainder of the PIAA winter championships, which included the boys and girls basketball tournaments, as well as the swimming championships, leaves a hole in the record books, but not having a spring season leaves an empty feeling for everyone involved.

For Bethlehem Catholic baseball coach Mike Grasso, this spring would have marked his final season in the dugout after 46 years of coaching. This lost spring season might be a somber way to end his coaching career, but while Grasso is upset at how things have transpired, he’s also grateful for everything he’s been able to do.

“I feel so bad for the seniors in all sports,” said Grasso, “but I think if we can save lives, it’s worth it for everyone involved. I’ve been truly blessed to live my life this way for so many years, but I am going to miss coaching. You wish things could have ended differently, but this is part of life. You go through ups and downs.”

That roller coaster ride now puts administrators in brainstorm mode on how to handle the rest of the academic calendar with prom and graduation ceremonies certainly going to be affected by this news.

For Hartman, he had a Zoom meeting with all of his spring coaches last Friday to discuss ideas on how to honor their spring athletes.

“We’ll come together and think of ideas on how to honor our student-athletes,” said Hartman. “We know it’s tough for seniors right now. We’re all trying to work through this at the moment.”