‘It was just smiles right away’ Kane County athletes, coaches react to seasons starting

Start packing extra hand warmers, parents. Athletes, mask up and play ball.

As expected, the Illinois High School Association unveiled a comprehensive revision of the entire sports slate on Wednesday afternoon. Every IHSA-sanctioned sport, including those who lost entire seasons last spring, will indeed have a season in some fashion.

Details ranging from athlete participation, schedule building, officiating schedules and more are just a handful of the tasks looming ahead for school districts and programs.

For now, though, reasons for optimism are plenty sustainable.

“The second I saw [the news] on Reddit, it was just smiles right away,” Burlington Central quarterback Mark Ganziano said. “[I’m] Just so excited and happy; being able to play with the juniors and sophomores – even if there’s no playoffs – just a couple more games, anything is just amazing.”

Just weeks ago, optimism among athletes and coaches was not particularly high on the prospect of a season’s return.

Ganziano said he would’ve taken whatever he could get.

“One game would’ve been more than enough,” Ganziano said. “Just anything, like I said. It’s just amazing news.”

Football will be a six game schedule with practice beginning on March 3 and a first contest slated for March 19.

“I am just so happy for all IHSA athletes,” Burlington Central football coach Brian Melvin said. “On the football side, the good thing is we have been working for this moment since the summer. I just can’t wait to watch this team play.”

Basketball is eligible to practice immediately, and hold intra-conference contests after seven practices as long as a region is within Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois Plan. Traditional spring sports such as baseball, softball and track can begin practice April 5.

While nothing schedule-wise is firm, St. Charles North boys basketball coach Tom Poulin hedged that approximately two or three games a week, in conference, is the early conjecture among DuKane Conference coaches. As for practices, Poulin is starting as soon as Thursday evening, with practices following into the weekend.

Shaw Media’s Alex Kantecki compiled a comprehensive Q/A on the latest immediate questions for athletes and parents.

The St. Charles East softball team, which took second place in Class 4A in 2019, had its season last year canceled because of the pandemic.

While the possibility of a state series for all spring sports is still undetermined – IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson hedged it’s unlikely – games will begin in April and run through June 19 regardless.

“I am extremely excited to see the team back together again. I love those girls,” ,” Saints senior and University of Iowa softball commit Madelyn Rouse said. “It would be great if we could get another shot at the state title, since we weren’t able to make another run last year. I am so pumped to get on the field one more time before I leave East.”

St. Charles North varsity baseball also finished second in the Class 4A state tournament in 2019. Those memories certainly haven’t been forgotten for those in the program. The job now is to continue the benchmark left in the best way they can, navigate the upcoming challenges and make the best experience possible.

“Everybody is just really, really thankful that we’re going to have a season,” St. Charles North coach Todd Genke said. “...At the end of the day, it’s all about our kids and our athletes. However we can help them navigate the waters and be able to play more than sport...I think is really important.”

“We need to show our kids that’s still possible, and kids can play multiple sports,” Genke continued. “Again, there’s going to have to be some concessions made within each program, but overall, I think the resounding fact is: We are going to be able to play, we’re going to see people on the courts...and kind of get back to what we all have been used to over the years.”

“When I put my head on the pillow tonight, that’s what I’m going to be thankful for, for sure.”