Flathead reacts: Hoping for a spring sports season

It’s a strange sight.

School hallways and sports complexes lay empty across the valley. There’s not a soul in sight despite the sunny spring weather outside.

Spring prep sports came to a halt last week as a precaution against the COVID-19 outbreak that has now made its way to Montana.

“Its affecting everyone in the state,” longtime Flathead boys track coach Dan Hodge said. “It’s affecting all the schools. It is a shame but this is life. There’s absolutely nothing you or I can do about the situation other than hunker down and hope it goes away.”

Hodge said there were 114 boys, including 25 seniors that turned out for track this year, among them several defending state champions hoping to set even higher marks.

Charlie Dotson, the Flathead girls track coach, had 125 girls, including 30 seniors, turn out for the first - and what ended up as the only - week of practice.

Dotson said the weather was nice enough that the team was able to be outside every day before the shutdown. Last year, heavy snow prevented teams from practicing outside early in the season.

It’s a cruel irony.

“We finally have a decent spring to get out and do some stuff,” said Flathead softball coach Jack Foster. “I feel bad - we got the first week in and the kids were working so hard.”

Regulations prohibit coaches from giving athletes any workouts during the stoppage, so many are just acting as moral support, encouraging students to stay positive.

“I’ve had some text messages from our captains and I can almost feel the tears coming through the phone,” Whitefish girls tennis coach Patrick Dryden said.

State A champions last year, the Bulldogs were poised to win another title — a dream team,” Dryden said.

Seniors have to grapple with the fact that their last high school sports season might not even happen.

“It’s a very tough situation and I feel really bad for the kids but at the same time we all know we have to do what’s right here,” Jimmy Cripe, Flathead boys and girls tennis coach, said. “Especially the seniors, I think their thoughts are if they’re going to have a final season or not. Really tough for them knowing it could be their last.”

Players are also discouraged from gathering in groups, though some could venture out solo to work on skills and stay sharp in the meantime.

The Montana High School Association is scheduled to issue an update after their April 13 meeting.

That could mean sports are cleared to resume or the season is outright cancelled. Uncertainty is abundant.

“I don’t know that we expected it to come to this point where everything’s suspended but we are where we’re at and I think kids are dealing with it pretty well,” Cripe said.

“Everybody’s anxious to find out how long this is going to last and if we’re going to have any kind of season at all.”

Dryden has tried to put it in the back of his mind.

“I was thinking about it way too much but I’m trying to detach now and not let it consume me,” he said.

While classes are cancelled for now, teachers have been at school putting together virtual lessons for online learning should students not be allowed to return for the rest of the school year.

Hodge is retired from teaching but has been at Flathead every day, washing uniforms and sweats.

“I haven’t handed out that stuff yet,” he said. “I’m really expecting them to say that the season has been cancelled to the very end.”

MHSA has a 10-day practice rule before competitions, but has said they will reduce that to five days in the event sports are able to resume.

There’s not much to be done in the coming weeks but to watch and wait — and hope there will be a season.

“It just seems so weird - I’ve been doing this a long time and none of us have ever been through anything like this,” Foster said. “I’ve talked to a few of (the kids). They understand. They’re disappointed. They understand the situation.”

Cripe is hopeful, but realistic.

“I would love it if we were able to get a season in but with everything changing every day, it doesn’t seem that likely to be honest. We’re keeping hope up. If we can we’re going to make the best of it.”