MUNCIE — Sure, I’ve long felt that there would be a day when I would see an athletic contest played out with no fans in attendance.
The reason, however, would be that fans would have been kicked out because of behavior issues such as heaping too much abuse on game officials.
But what I witnessed Saturday afternoon in Muncie was beyond what I might have imagined. The Gymnastics State Finals were held without fans out of fear of the spread of a disease, the COVID-19 virus.
“I liked it better because I feel like there was less pressure,” said sophomore Emily Moore, who tied for second on the beam, tied for third on the bars and placed fifth in the all-around competition in leading Columbus North to a fifth-place team finish.
The consensus around Ball State’s Worthen Arena following the meet was a feeling of relief that the meet was held. That especially was the case with North’s three seniors who competed — IHSAA Mental Attitude Award winner Sami Heathcote, along with Ashley Niebrugge and Alayne Davis.
“I’m very glad that the meet was not canceled because being seniors, it would be very tough on us to have a regional meet and not have a state meet,” Niebrugge said.
“I’m very glad it wasn’t canceled because it was our last chance to get out there and give it all we had and just make some memories,” Davis added.
The gymnasts were lucky. Their boys basketball counterparts weren’t as fortunate. The IHSAA postponed boys basketball regional competition indefinitely on Friday.
Throw in the fact that several schools, including Columbus East and North, have cancelled all school-related activities and practices until April 6, and the fear was there that the state gymnastics meet might get canceled.
“I was, just because of everything going on, especially with Ball State not coming back to school for awhile,” said East junior Taylen Lane, who competed on two events as an individual. “It was really nice because we were all super nervous that it was going to be canceled. It was really sad not having your parents up here, but it was nice still being able to have it and being with all the other girls.”
At the Gymnastics State Finals, officials had the gymnasts wash their hands after every event. Sandra Walter, the IHSAA assistant commissioner who administers gymnastics, was grateful to Ball State for letting the meet go on.
“Holding this today was something the felt like they could do,” Walter said. “Our schools, bar none, were in agreement that they would come. Every judge we had assigned was in agreement to attend and work. We’re certainly grateful to Ball State to let these ladies compete one last time for a state title. I’m really thankful that got to occur.”
So were the girls, even if their family and friends had to miss one meet, albeit one of the biggest ones of their lives.
“It’s unfortunate that our fans weren’t in the stands, but our kids cheered for one another in a fashion that I’ve never seen at an event,” Walter said. “If high school athletics is what we say it is — education based — today was the perfect example, and if anything good comes out of this day and the situation that surrounds us, it is that.”
Ted Schultz is sports editor for The Republic. He can be reached at tschultz@therepublic.com or 812-379-5628.
