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#SomeoneToListen Archive
Jennifer Queller
Illinois Springfield
Women's Golf
Jr., Corona, California
Major: Biochemistry
It has been nearly a month since both of our golf teams got the news that we would not be competing at all this 2020 season. All of us were in two vans on our way to our first tournament in Kentucky from our week-long Spring Break training in Florida. All of us were so excited to kick off the season together, something that had not happened in quite some time for our teams. I still remember hearing the news like it was yesterday.
First, there was the news our tournament would not be supplying us water in Kentucky while we played. Then, we got news we would have another week of Spring Break. When we got to a gas station somewhere in Georgia, it was then we all had a feeling our season was done when the NCAA started to speak about the DI sporting events being canceled. After traveling for an entire day, we neared our stop for the night in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and got the news that we would not be competing the next day. As we traveled back to Springfield, Illinois the next morning, we got the call from our Coach saying our season was done.
The news did not really hit us until our only two seniors from the men’s team spoke up at another gas station. They were trying to remember their last hole of play in their undergraduate college experience. Hearing them remember their golf careers as a Prairie Star really struck a chord, particularly with myself. I realized all of the hard work we all had put forth in the last few months was for nothing. Everything we aspired to do, all the tournaments our coach set up for us... just gone.
Our seniors never got to play their last season, our freshmen never got the taste of spring competition season, and we never had a chance to play in a single spring tournament.
Next thing I knew, I was back on a deserted campus, as no one had returned due to our extended Spring Break. It was just me, my teammates, and a couple of people we knew. The next few days got worse shortly after. We were all trying to figure out what was going on as our campus facilities slowly closed down, and the news reports were getting worse for air travel and being outside. We were back on campus on March 13th, and I had planned to fly back home on March 25th since classes were now online. On March 15th, my mom called me insisting I fly home sooner on the 18th, and I decided it was for the best. I had to pack everything I owned in less than three days into the car I had at school. I was afraid of leaving all of my stuff in my campus apartment in case something was to happen in my absence. Luckily, I made the right choice, as two days later, my university sent a campus-wide e-mail saying they were shutting down facilities and everyone needed to leave campus by the 20th. Everyone was in shock, and slightly scared at what was to come in the next few weeks.
When I flew out on the 18th, I realized how insane everything had gotten during the single week we were all away training in Florida. I had a total of three flights on my way back to Southern California, all of which had a total of 12-20 people on a flight that could easily fit 120. Even before that, my flights were canceled twice and one of my legs delayed. I had a constant concern in the back of my mind that I was going to be stranded in some state, but even then, I reminded myself I was still in the United States, thank goodness.
When I finally got home, after 12-plus hours of traveling, I found out that California was shutting down flight departures and arrivals. I was so happy to get home.
Now that it has been a month since being back home, I have realized how much I miss being at college, seeing my friends, and playing with my teammates. I realize how much I miss being able to practice whenever I would like, as the courses closed shortly after being home. I would give almost anything to have that back right now. However, the conditions of the nation and world are what they are. Everyone is in this together and we will get through this.
I have spent my fair share of sadness thinking of everything lost due to this pandemic, but I know I am not the only one in this. Talking to my friends and teammates through FaceTime and Zoom have helped me to cope and come to terms with this quarantine. Knowing my friends and family are safe help keep me at ease during these stressful times.
As for golf, I have one more year left. While regaining a season of eligibility allows me to play for another season, I will (most likely) not be able to cash it in. I am aspiring to attend medical school to earn my medical degree/license in anesthesiology, meaning I cannot play golf as much as I would like to.
On the bright side of all of this, we can only look up from here on out. I have realized there is no sense in thinking about what could have been when I still have a whole other season ahead of me. Some are not as fortunate to be in such a position. All I can think about now is doing the best I can in my online science courses and look forward to when all of the golf courses reopen.
I cannot wait to practice with my teammates again, to see our athletic department, to see my friends, and to see all of our teams excel in the 2020-2021 season. I am beyond excited and hungry to attack the next year and have some of the best practice and competitive rounds of my college golf career.
We will all get through this even through all of these uncertainties. I believe in the balance of things in the world, where there is good, there is bad, and vice versa. While it seems like there has just been constant bad news since the beginning of 2020, an equal amount, if not more, of good news must follow. We are all in this together, and we will get through this so we can all have great seasons of competition again. To borrow a common phrase from our school’s Cross Country/Track and Field teams, we will get through this together, ‘As One.’
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