The high school spring sports season is officially over.

With the April 22 joint announcement by S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster and Superintendent Molly Spearman making school closures permanent for the 2019-20 school year, the organizations overseeing its high school sports followed suit.

Minutes following the announcement, the S.C. High School Executive Committee voted 15-0 to cancel the remaining portion of the spring sports schedule.

“It’s come to the point now where time has run out on us,” Executive Committee President Ozzie Ahl said prior to the vote.

A couple of hours later, the S.C. Independent School Association released a statement indicating it would also cancel its spring sports. Athletics Director Mike Fanning did indicate it would look into holding exhibitions involving senior athletes should the governor lift restrictions by June 1.

“While we were hopeful that we would be able to resume, we recognized the need to protect the health and safety of our students, coaches and the communities we serve,” SCISA Athletics Director Michael Fanning said.

‘It’s sad’

The SCHSL also has June 1 in mind as a possible resumption date for summer athletics. While football and competitive cheer will not be able to make up spring practices, the league has lifted the “dead period” in July where normally sports teams are not allowed to hold workouts.

“It’s sad,” SCHSL Commissioner Jerome Singleton said. “A lot of communities, a lot of parents, coaches, administration, especially student-athletes, they put a lot of time for this spring season and my heart goes out to the seniors. But, based on the statement made by the governor, there’s no in-person school, then we’ve always followed that guideline that if there’s no schooling going on, no competition can take place.”

Lexington District 1 Athletics Director David Bennett understood the tough decision.

“All about safety 1st, academics 2nd and then sports come after that,” he said.

Reaction was immediate from coaches and senior players.

‘It’s so much more than just the games’

“As a coach I always cry at the end of the season,” Gray Collegiate girls soccer coach Emily Heise tweeted. “When you get to reflect on what the season was, what legacy the seniors have left, the goals reached... it’s so raw and emotional! Today was no different!

“I’m going to miss my kids and am so proud they chose (Gray Collegiate soccer).”

“It’s real disappointing to have your season stripped away from you like that, especially being a senior,” said Gilbert pitcher Travis Elliott, whose last game was played at Segra Park in Columbia. “Especially for us. I thought we had a really good team this year. I thought we were going to make a good run. But yeah, it’s disappointing.”

“We all knew this decision was coming, but it doesn’t make it any easier to hear it,” Lexington baseball coach Brian Hucks told a Columbia newspaper. “It makes it even worse that I can’t tell my players in person, hug them, and make sure they know how much I love each of them. It’s so much more than just the games.”