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

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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.

Mckenzie Truett- Laurence Manning softball

“Losing my last season of softball has been very hard to accept. I have been playing since I was five years old and can’t imagine a life without it. There’s a security on the softball field. It makes me feel safe from the outside world. Losing this security scares me. Whenever I walk onto the field, all of my outside worries and stresses are gone. It’s just me, the field, and the sport I love. Laurence Manning softball has been nothing but good to me. Playing the sport I love at the school I love is something I wouldn’t trade for the world. There’s so many things to experience in senior year sports: your last first game, the sound of fans who have supported you all these years cheering from the stands, senior night, your last game, and the goodbye that you’ve been dreading all these years- the goodbye from softball. If there’s anything I’ve learned from this past year, it’s to play every game like it’s your last. Your last game is never promised; it’s not guaranteed. Go out proud of the player and leader you are. Although I was not able to give softball a proper goodbye, I wouldn’t trade any of the memories and friendships for anything. Thank you Laurence Manning softball for giving me the best times of my life. Once a Swampcat, always a Swampcat.”

Alex Venegas – Lakewood soccer

“I feel really bad because my senior year ended the way it did. I had dreams to accomplish and I really wanted to do much more. Last year I got injured and had to get surgery and I thought that was my end but it wasn’t not until after 11 months not playing soccer. After all that I put all my hard work in All practices and during our games we never gave up and we’ve put our 100% in everything even our coaches really wish our season wouldn’t have ended like this I enjoyed every moment with my teammates they are more then just teammates they are my brothers we’re fam. I want to  wish all of my senior brothers the best and I miss them wish we could play another game together...”

Terry Baker – East Clarendon track and field

“The loss of my senior season was really hard to get over. To have this taken away from me leaves to think of what could have been. This was my year, my year to be a leader, my year to give it my all and leave everything I had on the track. Not only that but this was my last year with my team. A team I’ve been apart of for the last 6 years. I had a feeling at the start of the season that this was going to be the best year for for the team. All of the training and work we had put in was finally paying off. Never being able to put on that uniform again hurts my heart. Leaving me to wonder what could have been this season. But alas my time is done so I wish the seniors of next year the best!!!”