Softball shortstop Mya Case was hoping to follow up a freshman season that included All-Region, First Team All-Conference, All-Rookie accolades and a trip to the NCAA East Region Championships with an even better season in 2020. That plan however was curtailed when she and more than 100 New Haven spring student-athletes had their season cut short after two weeks of competition due to the worldwide Coronavirus pandemic.
Below, Case talks about the shock of having her season pulled from beneath her and the daily modifications she has made to adjust to the new reality she and all of us are facing during these challenging times.
March 9, 2020: I thought today was going to be a normal day. Wake up, go to class, go to lift and then go to practice. Up until practice that's exactly what it was, a normal day. During practice something just didn't feel right. As we continued with practice coach suddenly told us to pack up and meet on the bleachers. I could tell by the tone of her voice that something was wrong. Immediately, I began thinking about our trip to North Carolina and whether we would ever have the opportunity to play. I didn't realize the announcement she was about to make would impact us all in such a profound way.
She sat us down and told us that as of 6:00 p.m. that night, all classes and athletic events would be cancelled, and everyone would need to leave campus until March 25th. In that moment my heart sank, I was confused, I didn't know what was going to happen. All I could think about was how this would impact myself, and our season. I sat and wondered what the next couple of weeks would bring. I was eagerly anticipating the re-start of the season.
March 11, 2020: Less than 48 hours after leaving campus, the NCAA posted that all winter championship events would be held with limited attendance made up of essential staff and select family members. After reading that statement, I thought this was going to be the extent of it, the virus would pass, and after these two weeks everything would go back to normal. Boy was I wrong. What we didn't know was every athlete was about to get hit with another piece of reality.
March 12, 2020: A day no student-athlete will forget. It was the day all our countless hours, sweat, tears and dedication to the sport became meaningless. As we all know the NCAA posted an amended statement that declared all remaining winter and spring championships were cancelled. I never thought a full year of hard work and dedication would be stripped right before my eyes. I was angry, I kept thinking - "Why does the NCAA think they can take this opportunity away?" "Have they even thought about the seniors and what this means to them?" "Do they understand this is the last chance some people get to chase after a national title?" After talking with my teammates, it was clear they felt the same way.
Luckily, softball has taught me how to handle failure, deal with adversity and most importantly how to put others before myself. I think I can speak on behalf of all New Haven student-athletes when I say that athletics has shaped us into the people we are today. This virus is just another setback in the life of a student-athlete.
To those who say, 'there are bigger things in life than sports,' really don't understand the impact and the depth sports has on our lives. To put it into perspective, a student-athlete eats, breathes and sleeps the sport they play. Between the early morning workouts, the evening practices and going to class; these are all the things a student-athlete deals with on a daily basis. Now with the growing impact of COVID-19 we have all had to adjust to the realization that this season will not go as planned.
While I can sit here and write for hours about what could have been this season and dwell on the current situation, I've decided to take the time and talk about the different opportunities we now have. In this five-month break, it is important to stay connected with our team. Zoom and Skype are a perfect way to remain in contact with teammates while we go through this difficult time. We have to encourage each other to stay active, create workout plans and send pictures back and forth when each activity is completed.
By doing this you are staying in shape and remaining connected at the same time. Even though we are no longer able to play it does provide us time to work on the specific aspects of our game and ability to come back stronger and faster. Although I will have the opportunity to come back for my junior year my heart goes out to all the seniors that now have to make the difficult decision to come back for a fifth year or graduate and miss out on all the festivities that would have come with finishing a senior season.
Through these tough times it is important to recognize everything you have. Though I am upset our season ended unexpectedly, I am now given a unique opportunity to spend quality time with the ones I love. I recently got back from North Carolina where I spent the week visiting my sister, whom I haven't seen since November. Had I still been in school, another year might have passed before I could see her again. Since family means the world to me it was difficult when I wasn't home for certain celebrations or even a casual Sunday dinner. I am going to take this time while I am home to appreciate everything and everyone around me.
Lastly, I would like to thank the seniors. I want to thank you for being family, for taking me in when I was a freshman last year and making New Haven my home away from home. The memories we have shared will be cherished forever and everything you have done for the softball program and University will never be forgotten. You have made an everlasting impression and given that we've been granted another year of eligibility I hope you take that opportunity to come back and finish what you've come here to do. If that is not the path you decide to take, then I wish you the best in wherever that path may lead you. You will be greatly missed.
While there is nothing anyone can say or do that will make any of this better it is important to think about the health and safety of the general public. It can be easy to get down and upset in times like these, but you must remember to stay positive, everything happens for a reason and in the end, everything will work out.
This story is the first in a series of features being produced by NewHavenChargers.com to spotlight and highlight our student-athletes, alumni, coaches, staff and administrators during this unprecedented time in our history. The University of New Haven is working to meet the educational, financial, physical and emotional needs of our students. If you would like to consider a gift that can help mitigate the financial impact these sudden circumstances have on our students and their families, please CLICK HERE.