NMAA’s cancellation of fall sports puts student athletes’ futures in jeopardy
Alex Baca — October 17, 2020
New Mexico State University (NMSU) — In an unprecedented turn of events for athletes across the state, the resurgence of COVID-19 cases in New Mexico has once again forced the suspension of high school sports.
Only two weeks ago, it seemed many high school teams competing in football, volleyball, golf, cross country, and soccer were all beginning practices again in hopes of beginning each respective season as they did just a year prior.
The recent news from government officials has shifted all of them into another standstill.
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced last Thursday that she would not be lifting restrictions to allow school sports to play.
The New Mexico Activities Association (NMAA), announced shortly after that fall sports would be canceled only days before they were scheduled to begin. As cases rise in the state, she warned that “traveling for games and competitions increases the risk of transmission” of the disease.
“We just cannot afford these additional health risks […] and it is a huge disappointment,” Lujan Grisham said
A mix of emotions from students, parents, teachers, and coaches has stirred up the conversation among sports in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some think that it is safer not to play, while others believe that the kids should be able to play.
Many student-athletes have been preparing for their seasons since the beginning of the summer; with hardly any other activities or social events to look up to, sports are the bridge to sanity and occupation for some.
The mental toll on students has come into consideration since the pandemic forced closures and cancellations in March, beginning with the NMAA State Basketball Championships, where fans weren’t allowed to spectate after the first day of competition.
One high school team that experienced the echoes of an empty Pit Arena at the University of New Mexico was the Capital Jaguars, one of the two public schools in Santa Fe. The Jaguars took second place in the championship game just before Las Cruces High, which was expected to be a popular and fan-packed game.
Capital High senior Izayah Serrano is one of the few players who experienced playing in a silent arena last season, with nothing but squeaking shoes and a bouncing ball to commemorate the weekend.
Although boys’ basketball is a winter sport, the team begins preparation throughout fall. He is unsure if he will even get the chance to play one more season as uncertainty looms.
“I find it sad that other states are playing. Sports keep a lot of us bonded and have kept us out of trouble, I believe we need to let some sort of sport or activity happen,” Serrano said.
“A lot of students aren’t doing too good because of situations at home. Sports help us with a lot of problems we face at home, and we use them to cope with things.”
Northern New Mexico schools like Capital are seeing the repercussions of the restrictions set in place by the governor as they are only minutes away from the Roundhouse. Senior students may be without any sports competition before they graduate in May.
Government officials set initial restrictions and closures nearly eight months ago due to the COVID-19 pandemic, testing everyone’s mental state. Without sports, some believe the situation is worsening.
Española Valley High School senior Kianna Duran is a multi-sport athlete who fears she may not get the chance to show out one last year as a Sundevil.
She finds her version of happiness within sports; the energetic atmosphere and intensity are euphoric to her.
“The recent cancellations have hit me deeply considering it’s my senior year of high school and volleyball being my main sport. I often use those practices and games to get out of my head and clear my thoughts; it’s therapeutic,” Duran said.
“Sports encourage me to do well in school and they help me build many social skills. It saddens me that New Mexico is one of the few states not competing. Without sports, I feel like I’m stuck in sad isolation.”
The University of New Mexico has halted practices as recently as Thursday following the positive testing of eight players and one staff member on the Lobos football team. The NMSU football team looks forward to competing in spring rather than the fall.
Student-athletes who are in their final year of high school are anxious about missing out on their chance to play in college or use one more season to get scouted.
Stories such as those of Izayah Serrano and Kianna Duran serve as living proof of how students rely on sports not only for their health and enjoyment but also for their mental maintenance, safety, and future opportunities.
The NMAA plans to compensate for the cancellation of fall sports by scheduling them during the spring season, depending on the situation they encounter in the coming months.
