The lost spring seniors: COVID-19's impact on Sumter, Clarendon, Lee high school athletes, Part XIII

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Senior athletes in spring sports have lost out on most of their final high school seasons because of the coronavirus, so The Sumter Item wanted to hear from them about what that lost spring means to them. The Item will be running this series over the next several editions to give them a voice during their lost spring.

Measha Jones – Manning track and field

“Losing my very last season of track and field was very unexpected. Like I really only got a chance to compete in one track meet. So many goals I was looking forward to accomplishing my senior year was really in the palm of my hand and just instantly left. I really was looking forward to returning back to state and winning everything all over again just like last season...I mean what can I say it’s a good feeling but knowing I will never feel that way again in high school sports hurts. But this is not the end of my career just be on the look out."

Addison Ragland – Manning baseball

“I would have never thought my senior year would end like this. Losing my last year of high school baseball hit hard. I wouldn’t get to witness playing with my friends one last year or standing out on the field one last before it’s time to hang it up. I wouldn’t get to have a senior night with my coach and the team. Practice and playing those few games we did I had fun and made my few senior memories. If I could step on that field one last year, I would. My dad always told me, ‘Always play the game like its your last.’ Now I see what that mean. If anyway I could tell any other baseball player, I’d say play hard and play like it’s your last.”

Brennan Jones - Sumter baseball

"Losing my senior season can be described in many words but the main one is disappointing. It is disappointing to not be able to play one last season with the guys I’ve grown up with and to see how far we could have gone and what we could have accomplished. It is disappointing to have worked you’re way up from B team to varsity and then just having that taken away from you.

Emily Cadena – Lakewood soccer

“It honestly broke my heart that I wouldn’t be able to finish my career at Lakewood, but I think it got a lot better knowing that I’ll get to play at the next level next year.”