Marlee Smith is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Phoenix Country Day for AZPreps.

Daniel Gomez misses more than the games that the coronavirus has stolen from the Phoenix Country Day school senior.  

“It’s frustrating,” said Gomez. “The most frustrating part is even though I’d like to have a senior season, I’m missing out on bus rides and making memories that you remember more than the season.”

For athletes like Gomez, this is the end of their high school careers. The AIA canceled all spring sports and activities for the semester leaving many seniors feeling empty with unfinished business.

“You don’t really know your last game is over until it’s over,” said Gomez. “But, going into the baseball season I had every intention of having a senior night, and going to playoffs and not for the season to randomly end on a Tuesday. It sucks.

“Even just being a senior this is difficult. This is the last two to three months of high school. This is the timeframe to make memories. Not being able to be with friends and play with teammates is frustrating. I’m hoping prom isn’t canceled and I really don’t want to receive my diploma in the mail.”

Gomez thinks the AIA made the right decision to cancel the season for the safety of the athletes and fans. His team continues to stay together and talk every day.

“We’re trying to figure out the safest possible way to play baseball,” said Gomez. “Those that are really serious are working out and staying in game shape."

Not having sports has had a large effect on the population. All professional and college sports in the U.S. have postponed or canceled their seasons until further notice. 

“Two weeks without professional sports so far has been dreadful,” said Gomez. “I was supposed to go to some spring training games, can’t do that. I was supposed to go to a Sun’s game, can’t do that. Not being able to have March Madness, pain.”

With sports being canceled, Gomez is enjoying an extended spring break and an early summer. But, with extra time comes the struggle that most Americans are facing: what to do with all that time. 

“It’s been brutal. I can’t be more bored now,” said Gomez. “The first couple of days I binged Netflix. After a couple of days, I was like ‘I can’t waste my brain doing this.’ I’ve been using some old weights that my dad has to try and stay in shape. The cardio has been running around with my dogs outside.”

Hoping the virus will end soon, Gomez is confident that sports will be back in full force. 

“I feel like when this settles down, I don’t think its gonna have that much of an effect on sports,” said Gomez. “I think they’ll change some stuff about traveling and how fans interact. But, I think things will go back to normal.”

But it doesn’t look like anything is going back to normal for Gomez. With the season canceled, seniors like Gomez will never get to finish their seasons or high school careers. 

“I miss not being able to be on the field right now,” said Gomez. “I’ve been playing basketball and baseball since I was three so knowing that I’m missing out on playing in general but it’s also my senior season. With basketball, I’m at peace with what I did in high school and what I’ve accomplished. With baseball, there’s that regret of that ‘what if’ to see what could have happened.”

Gomez has one final message for all senior athletes. 

“To seniors whether this is their last time playing sports ever or last time playing before playing in college there’s no way to tell what could have happened. I hope this doesn’t hold us back. Keep pushing.”