My Lumberjack Life: Kaylee Bizzell
4/29/2020 7:00:00 PM | Track & Field
SFA Athletics is continuing a new series called My Lumberjack Life. With the 2019-20 season of competition cut short, this series is an opportunity for our athletes to share how they've been dealing with the recent global events, and how they are spending their time away from campus and the sport they play.
My teammate and I had just landed in Albuquerque, New Mexico for the NCAA Indoor Nationals when we were told to call our parents and have them cancel their flights. In light of the growing concern for the virus, NCAA officials had made the announcement two days before competition that fans would not be able to attend the meet. Now track and field athletes are no stranger to a small crowd, so although I was upset my family couldn't attend, I was still grateful that they were continuing the competition.
The next day we waited for updates from the NCAA, and every hour we learned of more and more cancellations. The day before the meet, with no cancellation notice, we went to the track for a pre-meet practice on the pit. During the middle of practice, we got the news we'd been dreading. The NCAA had officially announced the meet was cancelled.
The entire situation seemed surreal. In the midst of disappointment and even a little fear, teams were scrambling to get a flight back home. Once we got home, my teammates and I kept practicing everyday hoping that our outdoor season would resume in a few weeks. Eventually even that was abandoned after the NCAA announced that all spring sports were cancelled for 2020.
To be honest I felt lost...there was disappointment and anger mixed with uncertainty. I've been involved in sports since I was five years old and have identified myself as an athlete my whole life. I knew my athletic career was ending in June, but I hadn't prepared myself for it to be taken from me in February. As a senior, I was in shock and couldn't really process that I was done pole vaulting, for good. I had my entire spring planned out: I would finish nursing school in May, graduate with all my friends, (hopefully) win another conference championship a week after graduation, compete at outdoor nationals, (hopefully) compete at the Olympic trials in June, and then begin my life as an RN (registered nurse) after completing a successful and rewarding athletic career. To be honest, the virus kind of "rocked my world" leaving me wondering what I would do next.
Weeks have turned into months, and my roommates and I found ourselves adjusting to this new normal. We were able to do things that other college kids get to do, things we had missed out on for four years because of our busy schedules with athletics. We went to the pool, binged watched a Netflix series, made meals together, and finally got to take a break from all the stress that being a college athlete entails. I've also been able to spend some time at home with my family that isn't usually possible during the season.
Although it's been nice to have a break from all of the craziness, I feel like I had no true ending to my athletic career and don't want to leave without finishing my season and seeing what I can accomplish. I have decided to return to SFA and begin a masters' degree in Kinesiology while taking the opportunity to complete my senior track and field season. I'm excited to train with some of my old teammates and am looking forward to getting to know new ones as well. I'm extremely grateful that I have been given the chance for a season re-do, and I'm happy I won't become a NARP (Non-athletic regular person) yet!
As for the pandemic, please stay home and WASH YOUR HANDS.
Your fellow nurse & Lumberjack pole vaulter,
- K
My teammate and I had just landed in Albuquerque, New Mexico for the NCAA Indoor Nationals when we were told to call our parents and have them cancel their flights. In light of the growing concern for the virus, NCAA officials had made the announcement two days before competition that fans would not be able to attend the meet. Now track and field athletes are no stranger to a small crowd, so although I was upset my family couldn't attend, I was still grateful that they were continuing the competition.
The next day we waited for updates from the NCAA, and every hour we learned of more and more cancellations. The day before the meet, with no cancellation notice, we went to the track for a pre-meet practice on the pit. During the middle of practice, we got the news we'd been dreading. The NCAA had officially announced the meet was cancelled.
The entire situation seemed surreal. In the midst of disappointment and even a little fear, teams were scrambling to get a flight back home. Once we got home, my teammates and I kept practicing everyday hoping that our outdoor season would resume in a few weeks. Eventually even that was abandoned after the NCAA announced that all spring sports were cancelled for 2020.
To be honest I felt lost...there was disappointment and anger mixed with uncertainty. I've been involved in sports since I was five years old and have identified myself as an athlete my whole life. I knew my athletic career was ending in June, but I hadn't prepared myself for it to be taken from me in February. As a senior, I was in shock and couldn't really process that I was done pole vaulting, for good. I had my entire spring planned out: I would finish nursing school in May, graduate with all my friends, (hopefully) win another conference championship a week after graduation, compete at outdoor nationals, (hopefully) compete at the Olympic trials in June, and then begin my life as an RN (registered nurse) after completing a successful and rewarding athletic career. To be honest, the virus kind of "rocked my world" leaving me wondering what I would do next.
Weeks have turned into months, and my roommates and I found ourselves adjusting to this new normal. We were able to do things that other college kids get to do, things we had missed out on for four years because of our busy schedules with athletics. We went to the pool, binged watched a Netflix series, made meals together, and finally got to take a break from all the stress that being a college athlete entails. I've also been able to spend some time at home with my family that isn't usually possible during the season.
Although it's been nice to have a break from all of the craziness, I feel like I had no true ending to my athletic career and don't want to leave without finishing my season and seeing what I can accomplish. I have decided to return to SFA and begin a masters' degree in Kinesiology while taking the opportunity to complete my senior track and field season. I'm excited to train with some of my old teammates and am looking forward to getting to know new ones as well. I'm extremely grateful that I have been given the chance for a season re-do, and I'm happy I won't become a NARP (Non-athletic regular person) yet!
As for the pandemic, please stay home and WASH YOUR HANDS.
Your fellow nurse & Lumberjack pole vaulter,
- K
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