Watts discusses possible scenarios for track season

In this Daily Mail file photo — Nevada High head track-and-field and cross country coach, Ryan Watts, goes over strategy with a team member.

Photo by Matt Resnick | Daily Mail

With area schools still out due to the coronavirus pandemic, time is of the essence as it pertains to the spring sports season.

Nevada R-5, Sheldon, NEVC, Bronaugh, and Hume are out through April 3, and there's a distinct likelihood that could soon extend to April 24.

In a hypothetical scenario, if school were to resume April 24 it would leave relatively few days on the spring semester calendar to get in a partial season.

The Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) stipulates a team must get in 14 full practices prior to the start of competition. The practices can take place Monday through Sunday, and there is no requirement on the length of the practice. A coach, however, has to be present for it to be considered an official practice.

If the April 24 date were to hold, most high school athletic programs would be unable to start official competition until close to mid-May.

MSHSAA has not yet ruled out spring sports state championship events, according to a Tuesday press release from the organization.

“In all likelihood, any championships that do happen will have a very different look and feel than those in the past,” the MSHSAA statement read. ”(Our) staff continues to find possible venues and backup venues, as well as continue to develop multiple variations of what a postseason may look like.”

Second-year Nevada High track-and-field head coach Ryan Watts recently discussed this predicament with the Daily Mail.

"I like to think of myself as a pretty optimistic and positive person, so I'm holding out a little bit of hope," he said. "But, I will say, when they canceled the Olympics the other day, that was a pretty big shot across the bow of our likelihood of being able to get anything done."

Said Watts of the April 24 scenario: "The only way that would work is if MSHSAA decided to push back the districts, and sectional and state meets. Because, otherwise, you'd be running into the dates those meets are supposed to be (held) before we've had enough practices."

Under that scenario, it's likely there would be no regular-season at all.

"Unless somebody wanted to try to organize a tune-up meet. But, yeah, basically it would be — just get ready for districts, and see what we can do. Which is not ideal, but everybody's in the same boat. It's not like there's an advantage or disadvantage for any one team. I think we had the tools to be pretty good this year, and to potentially miss out on that makes it a little extra worse."

Watts said he would be thrilled to get a partial season in. For Nevada track-and-field, the state championship meet is currently slated for the final weekend in May in Jefferson City.

"Absolutely," Watts said. "If we can give these kids the opportunity to even compete a handful of times, just so they have something. Obviously, it's not going to be what it would have been. But, just to give those seniors, more than anything, the opportunity to compete one last time, would be wonderful. I would assume most of the coaches around the state feel the same way, that they're going to do whatever they can to make sure, if at all possible, we can have some type of season."

Watts said he's had a difficult time wrapping his mind around all that's transpired over the past couple weeks. From the standpoint of his own student-athletes, he said it's especially heartbreaking for the seniors.

"I feel so bad for them," he said. "Especially, you kind of think about our flagship seniors. Calli Beshore, all she's worked through up to this point, and to not get her senior season. That's terrible."

Added Watts: "I still get nostalgic and look back on when I was in high school, in cross country and track — and miss competing, and things like that. I can't imagine what that's going to feel like to lose your senior year, looking back on what could have been."

Watts said the heartbreak extends beyond sports.

"For those kids who are losing their senior seasons potentially, not only sports-related but potentially losing proms, and all of those kinds of things. That's stuff they'll never get back, and it's tough."

Watts said he's been attempting to keep tabs on his team members via text. During this period, MSHSAA prohibits schools from holding organized practices.

"I've told them to make sure you're eating right," he said. "If you can, get some exercise in. It's great if the kids can workout on their own, but at this point, I'm leaving it to the parents' discretion."

MSHSAA emphasized the importance of this in their press release.

"National, state and local governmental leaders are clear: To help our country slow the spread of this pandemic, the best thing society can do is limit its interaction with one another,” the release said. “So despite how difficult this may be, the MSHSAA office strongly recommends students, parents and non-school coaches/trainers follow this advice. Doing so could ultimately end up salvaging the spring sports season.”

In addition to track-and-field, other Nevada High spring sports programs impacted by the global health crisis are: baseball, boys golf, and boys tennis.