“I am so grateful for the support from my CHS family”
With the coronavirus pandemic forcing the closure of schools across the state for the remainder of the 2020 school year, the Chelsea High spring athletic season also was canceled, taking away from the members of the senior class the opportunity to compete for the last time in a Red Devil uniform.
The Chelsea Record invited the coaches and members of the CHS spring sports teams from the Class of 2020 to reflect on the season that so abruptly was taken away from them in order that we might give these young athletes some of the recognition that they deserve.
We also asked that they provide some insight into what it means to be a Chelsea High varsity athlete and briefly to discuss their plans for the future. This week we feature track star Stephanie Simon, the most-honored individual athlete in Chelsea High history.
We are certain that our readers will be as impressed as we were with the comments from this outstanding young woman and join us in wishing Stephanie the best in her future endeavors:
The Record will continue to publish additional comments from the athletes and coaches as we receive them.
STEPHANIE SIMON
Being an athlete at Chelsea High School meant everything to me. What got me through a lot of challenging days was knowing that I had a team full of so many people with so many unique personalities to share what I love doing, including the coaches.
Without my coaches I don’t know where I would be right now. As teammates graduated and my high school years passed, I realized two things:
1. I learned from the captains before me what it means to be a leader and that every person on any team (not just track) is valued and 2. How to adapt to change and adversity.
Track has taught me — through unexpected circumstances such as someone accidentally taking my spikes, having a bad performance in one of my events, a false start, or forgetting to grab the right spikes — to be able to take an unexpected occurrence and make it yours. Turn it into something good.
That’s how I see the loss of the spring season. Yes, I am disappointed that I won’t get to reach my goal of a 20-foot long jump as I had planned, but I understand that compared to the lives of others at risk of catching Covid-19, canceling the spring season was completely necessary. I’m glad we’re being cautious.
I do not consider the cancellation of the outdoor season to be a loss, because I will be continuing my career at a collegiate level. Missing the outdoor season has given me the motivation that I need to continue working hard, and I am .grateful for that.
As of now I plan on attending the Youngstown State University Dana School of Music, hopefully during the fall. I am so grateful for the support I have received from my CHS family and will never forget the people who helped me become who I am.