Players, coaches react to IHSA news: ‘I’ve been waiting so long for this’

The Putnam County girls basketball team’s Twitter account summed up Wednesday’s news with an homage to Michael Jordan’s 1995 return from retirement:

“We’re back,” the account tweeted around 4:30 p.m., not long after the IHSA released the sports schedules for the remainder of the school year.

“Obviously, we’re thrilled,” PC coach Jared Sale said. “We just want the kids to get out there, have fun, be able to compete again and have some kind of normal, because that’s been taken from them, and honestly everybody else, for so long.

“It’s time to get this thing back rolling. I’m really happy they were able to get something figured out.”

The IHSA announced boys and girls basketball, boys swimming, dance, cheerleading, and boys and girls bowling can start practices as soon as possible, with competitions beginning after seven days of practice. The season ends March 13.

Other than cheerleading and dance having virtual state series, there will be no postseason.

“I’m glad they finally took consideration of the athletes and are allowing us to get some semblance of a season,” Hall senior basketball and baseball player Trez Rybarczyk said.

Bureau Valley junior basketball player Adam Johnson went out for the spring musical so he’d have something to do and had his fingers crossed the Storm would get to play this year.

“I’ve been waiting for so long for this to happen, and I’m happy that it may become a reality,” he said. “I never imagined that we would be getting to play anytime soon. I figured that there was really no chance, and it is an amazing surprise.”

Princeton girls coach Tiffany Gonigam said she didn’t think basketball would happen until it gained a glimmer of hope last Friday from the IDPH.

“Things changed very fast. It is exciting,” said Gonigam, adding Wednesday was the latest she’s stayed at school this year, preparing schedules and season information for her team.

Along with a winter season, the IHSA set dates for spring and summer seasons.

Boys soccer can begin practice March 1, football practice starts March 3, and volleyball practice begins March 8. Boys soccer and volleyball competitions can begin after seven days of practice, while football games start March 19.

There will be no state series for those sports. The season ends April 17 for boys soccer and April 24 for football and volleyball.

Baseball, softball, girls soccer, boys tennis, and boys and girls track and field begin practices April 5, with competitions starting after seven days of practice. The season ends June 19, and the fate of state tournaments is to be determined.

Wrestling begins April 19, with matches starting after seven days of practice. The season ends June 12, with no state series.

“I think the IHSA did the best they could,” Hall boys basketball and softball coach Mike Filippini said. “I know a lot of people are mad. They wanted full seasons and regionals and sectionals and things like that, but with what they were dealing with with the state, I think they did a great job giving kids the opportunity to play. Obviously, it’s not a full season, but it’s something. I think what they did was as good as they probably could do under the circumstances.”

St. Bede boys basketball coach Brian Hanson said there was a different energy at practice Wednesday after the announcement.

“They’ve had the rug pulled out from under them a few times,” Hanson said. “It’s been a lot of, ‘Hey, we’re going to do it,’ then we don’t. So it was a different level of competitiveness (at practice Wednesday) just naturally. They’re excited. Hopefully, we’ll get back in the swing of things, get out there and play some ball.”

Princeton boys coach Jason Smith was in the middle of practice when the IHSA announcement came out Wednesday and had to catch up on the day’s news from a reporter. He said he’s most excited for the seniors, because he didn’t want them to have to remember their senior year being lost to a pandemic.

“That’s who I’m rooting for the most. They’re the ones that are missing out,” he said.

Bureau Valley Athletic Director Brad Bickett said the Three Rivers Conference will meet virtually Thursday to discus scheduling and other challenges the condensed sports season will pose and have a united front.

“I think at this point now, you worry about your conference and those loyalties there,” he said. “Now that we know the start dates and the number of practices we have, we can kind of look at a schedule. We really couldn’t get too far out in front of ourselves before that.

“There’s some work to do, but it’s exciting. Wow. It’s hard to believe we got to this point. And I think we’re thankful.”

Bickett believes getting officials may pose a big challenge.

“Us ADs may not have to schedule the games, but we may have to officiate, too. Sportswriters, if we allow them, may have to bring a whistle and a camera,” he joked.

He said the topic of allowing media and spectators will be discussed at Thursday’s meeting.

“I’m sure we would like to (allow media), because kids deserve that picture in the paper and some publicity,” he said, noting the limit of only having 50 spectators in the gym.

Coaches said they still plan to try to win games this season, but the approach to the season may be different with no postseason.

“Our goals as a team are to try to get in the best shape possible and try to be good teammates to each other, and we’ll go from there,” L-P girls basketball coach Hollis Vickery said. “There’s no state championship this year. The goals are different. We’re trying to keep it as simple as possible and trying to make it as fun as possible, too.”

L-P senior Lauren Phillips said she was “definitely thrilled to hear the news” after months of trying to keep hope.

Phillips, who plans to play basketball, volleyball and softball, said the lack of postseason won’t affect her effort.

“I don’t think it changes anything,” Phillips said. “I think every team’s goal is to play as hard as they can until the postseason. I think with how they have the seasons this year, we’re just going to go out and have fun and work as hard as we can. My work ethic isn’t going to change. I know I’m still going to try to play hard for my last year, and so are all my teammates.”

Like Phillips, many area athletes will be playing multiple sports over the coming months, and coaches have already started having conversations about it.

Filippini said he was already texting football coach Nick Guerrini about allowing his players to go to football practice during basketball season, while Hanson said football coach Jim Eustice and baseball coach Bill Booker both stopped in Wednesday.

“We know there are going to be challenges with smaller schools sharing guys because a few of the seasons overlap, but one thing we were discussing is the bottom line is we were all wishing these guys could put the uniform on again, and they’re going to be able to do that,” Hanson said. “That’s what it’s about, these guys being able to get out there and do something they love and have done for the last how many years in high school and grade school.”