Local sports landscape goes quiet

The race to stop COVID-19 has meant unfortunate halts to many normal rhythms in society, with sports disruptions being among the more high-profile.

Locally, Hinsdale student-athletes competing at the college level have seen their seasons abruptly ended, while Hinsdale Central spring athletes remain in limbo. Village-based leagues have also had to make significant adjustments.

Central graduate Mia Chiappe was preparing to swim with her Denison University teammates at the NCAA Division III championships last week when she got devastating news, first from an online post, then confirmed by her coach: all NCAA events were canceled.

"We all sat together down at the pool wondering what to do next," recounted the junior freestyler. "We were all very sad to hear the news. Everyone was crying and in disbelief. No one saw this coming and we really were holding out hope for a different outcome."

Chiappe said the team had four days together on campus before the school closed and decided to make the best of it.

"Saturday we hosted our own meet to give those who wanted to swim a chance to compete one last time," she said. "

The program had high hopes this year, having already won its conference championship. Chiappe, a four-time All-American, was eager to add to her accomplishments.

"The toughest part has been knowing that this was our year. From Day One the goal has been to be the team at the top of the podium at NCAAs and to have that abruptly taken away from us was painful," she remarked.

Chiappe said the experience, while still raw, has taught her not to take plans for granted.

"I think this shows that not everything that you think you have will be there," she reflected. "We have to work even harder next year to even come close to achieving the goal we set out for this year. We are losing a large amount of the national team, so it will just take more hard work and determination to be in the same spot next year."

Marty Brennan, president of the Hinsdale Platform Tennis Association, said the association's Men's Hinsdale Open was scheduled for last weekend was postponed after consulting health officials, including medical professionals within the association's membership, and as governmental guidelines to combat the threat of the coronavirus became more acute in nature.

"We felt it was in the best interests of our paddle community to postpone the event and maintain a healthy environment around the KLM paddle facility," Brennan said.

The tournament has been tentatively rescheduled for April 18-19. On a positive note, the Women's Open tournament was

able to be held Friday.

At Hinsdale Central, sports-related activities are on hold until at least April 6. With schools having different spring breaks and the Illinois High School Association targeting March 31 (as of press time) to resume, Central athletic director Dan Jones said there's a lot of variation and uncertainty.

"I have a feeling that everything is just on hold and we're going to wait and see how things proceed," Jones said.

With Centers for Disease Control recommending no gatherings of 50 people or more, he noted, such a restriction would certainly impact events like track meets.

As the president of the Illinois Athletic Directors Association, Jones said he is convening a meeting today, Thursday, to try to chart a course forward.

"Our (IADA) conference is May 1, and we're going to be talking about postponing that until July," he said. The first state meet scheduled is badminton the second weekend of May, and Jones, while reluctant to speculate, believes an April 6 return is ambitious.

"Right now I don't see anything coming back until the middle of April. I think they're just going to keep extending this," Jones said. "Right now everyone is waiting and seeing what directions we get from the health department and the state."

He encouraged Red Devil athletes to follow the guidelines on social distancing and, if necessary, quarantining.

"Hopefully everyone stays healthy and we can get back as soon as possible," he said.