By Joshua Huff, sports editor
MOODY – The city of Moody paid tribute to Moody High School senior athletes on Monday with banners displayed alongside the road in front of Milo’s.
The Public Works Department placed the banners in front of the chain restaurant located on Village Drive in Moody.
The sign of recognition follows a high school spring athletic season that is no more as the coronavirus pandemic has swept through the nation and disrupted almost every facet of everyday life. The virus prompted Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey to sign an amendment to her state of emergency forcing school systems throughout the state to adopt a plan to wrap the academic year through virtual means.
That declaration forced the end of baseball, soccer, golf, tennis, track and field and softball.
“Like thousands of others, I am deeply saddened and disappointed that our schools have closed, and spring sports will not have an opportunity to finish their seasons,” AHSAA executive director Steve Savarese said following the announcement. “Even more so, I am disheartened for all student-athletes, contest officials, their coaches, families, student bodies, fans, communities, and especially our seniors. We are facing an unprecedented health crisis, but I am prayerful that the steps we are taking now within our schools and across our nation will enable all those affected to return to a sense of normalcy sooner than later.”
The season had come to a halt earlier in March with the possibility that it could recommence on April 6 after the AHSAA said that it would reevaluate health conditions and determine the status of spring sports championship play. That possibility is obviously no more.
“I’m truly sorry, and I know Gov. Ivey and Dr. Harris are sorry that students are losing so many of the fun activities of their senior year that they really count on, but we have to do what is the most important and pressing thing and that is protecting the health and safety of our community,” Alabama State Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey said.
The Blue Devils’ shortened season comes as several of the programs were in the midst of successful seasons. The softball team wrapped its year 5-2-1 (1-0) while the girls’ soccer team sat at 4-2 (0-1).