Local official, athletes dealing with loss of spring sports due to coronavirus
Longtime IHSA track and field official Jason Gray loves the spring season and working with and teaching young student-athletes in Southern Illinois.
For the past 17 years, Gray has worked with a close-knit group of officials to educate area athletes on the rules and guidelines of track and field. Gray has had the thrill of watching some of the great performances in recent Southern Illinois track and field history while sharing in both the athletes triumphs and their disappointments.
But that is just part of the reason the spring of 2020 and the loss of the current season due to the coronavirus pandemic has been difficult for Jason Gray. After watching his two sons, Jack and Quin, both members of the Belleville East Lancers track team, train and run for months to get ready for this season, there isn’t one.
And there may not be one.
“As a dad, I know how much work they have put into this over the years. Particularly for Jack, I know how much coaches Pfeiffer, Garrison, Loyet, and Donaldson have invested in my son to not just be a good runner, but to grow through immaturity and become a good young man. Not having this senior season to see all the years and all the miles come to fruition is disheartening,” Gray said.
“For Quin, he had a great junior high career and was poised to have a breakout year. Not being able to potentially watch him burst onto the scene is also a bummer.”
Like everyone associated with high school athletics in Illinois, Gray remains hopeful there will at least be a limited track season this spring. With Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker’s stay-at-home order in place, schools will remain closed until April 30. However, IHSA officials said two weeks ago they remained optimistic a limited regular season and postseason series could still take place.
While many high school athletes are hoping to impress enough this spring to help earn scholarships, Jack Gray’s college future is secure. He will attend and compete in both cross country and track and field at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Michigan. Gray hopes to compete in the steeplechase at the college level after running in the 3,200 meters at Belleville East.
Although disappointed at not being able to compete his senior season, Gray is keeping things in perspective.
“I’m not overly concerned that I am missing my season since I have a bigger goal in mind ... my college career. A lot of seniors are not getting that opportunity and it is really hard for them since their careers are ending,” Jack Gray said. “The schooling thing doesn’t bother me ... I do miss hanging out with my friends, but I don’t mind missing school that much. Prom may be rescheduled, and graduation will likely be rescheduled so I’m hoping those things happen.”
Missing the crew
Also one of the top IHSA football officials in Southern Illinois for over two decades, Jason Gray worked his final game after 23 years last fall, partly to be able to watch and help his sons in their running careers.
Now in his 17th season as an IHSA track official, Gray has already missed 20 days of working meets this spring, a number which could double if the pandemic results in the entire season being canceled.
Aside from the loss of income for the officials, being away from friends and the athletes and opportunity to watch and help young people mature into responsible adults is difficult.
“I can speak for most of the officials. While this is hard for some financially since some officials count on the income to fund vacations, or even basic cash flow for life, we really miss the camaraderie with the other officials and the interaction with young people,” Gray said. “I love the opportunity to educate. I am not an educator by profession and this is my opportunity to educate young men and women. I miss that immensely.
“The laughing, the interaction, the teaching and learning, the celebration with their successes, their maturity during failures ... the life lessons from the track are not being experienced. You know how closely knit we are as officials and coaches in the cross country and and track and field community. We really enjoy each other. To quote Brian Weiss from Triad, ‘I miss the smell of rubber on the track!’ We love this sport(s) and not being able to be on the track is extremely disappointing.”
Still holding out hope
Hopefully Gray and the rest of the track and field coaches, officials and athletes will have the opportunity to enjoy competition this spring. But until that time, Jason Gray will enjoy working with his two favorite athletes — his sons Jack and Quin.
“I do think if Jack had not signed yet, he would be looking at this very differently since he would not have secured the scholarships. Both boys have taken this in complete stride. I am amazed at their positive spirits. They continue to train and get over 20 miles a week, even though the horizon is bleak,” Gray said.
“Granted, some of that may be from a former runner, current assistant East coach, and ‘encouraging’ father in the house, but they really are motivated enough to be going on their own runs without me pestering them.
“Thankfully the IHSA has not knee-jerked like many states, and is still holding out hope to have some sort of spring season. They also know that for a successful cross-country season, they need miles now.”
