On Nov. 18 Gov. Tim Walz released new Covid-19 restrictions that impacted youth sports in the state of Minnesota. The new guidelines put a pause on youth sports for four weeks.
Those orders went into effect on Nov. 20 and are in effect through Dec. 18. The restrictions shortened the football section tournaments, but section champions were still able to be crowned.
Those same restrictions halted the volleyball season before teams could reach postseason play.
Athletes say they didn’t get to enjoy the “finality” of their season that the football teams got to enjoy.
Taryn Rauk is one of nine seniors on the Hills-Beaver Creek volleyball team. Rauk said that she was thankful that they got to play this season, but called it devastating to have their season cut short.
“Having the season canceled before we finished all of our games, or before we could even have the playoffs was devastating," Rauk said.
“But I was so grateful that we at least got to play. Getting to play means more than not having the playoffs.”
Rauk said she was in a state of shock when she received the news that their volleyball season was going to be cut short.
“To hear that your season is going to be over, it just shocked us,” Rauk said.
“That’s when I truly realized that this is actually going to be my last volleyball game I will ever play as a Patriot. It was bittersweet for sure.”
The season may not have ended the way Rauk and her teammates wanted, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a memorable one.
“I think I can say something that all my teammates would agree with – that we were just so thankful that we could play,” Rauk said. “I can’t thank my amazing coaches and teammates enough for an unforgettable season.”
Dylan Gehrke, the first-year head coach for the Patriots, had to guide his team through uncharted territory with all the Covid-19 protocols.
He said his job was made easier due to the large group of seniors.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better group of senior girls,” Gehrke said.
“I have seen these girls play since they were in middle school. Their work ethic and leadership have been the most impressive thing. This entire summer they put in countless hours of time in the gym. They’ve been awesome role models for our younger classmen.”