The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1225452
The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, March 25, 2020 B-1 SPORTS Submit sports items: Call: 812-354-8500 Email: sports@pressdispatch.net or bring in a hard copy: 820 E. Poplar Street, Petersburg Email sports@pressdispatch.net GOT SPORTS NEWS? Protecting the health of our community. In an effort to prevent and limit the spread of potential novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in our community, we are screening ALL visitors and patients for communicable respiratory diseases, such as the flu and coronavirus. Screenings are being conducted at our Main and ER/Outpatient entrances — all other doors are locked. To help stay informed about the coronavirus and our visitor restrictions please visit our dedicated website: gibsongeneral.com. On this site, you can access: • A FREE symptom checker • Reliable information and resources about the coronavirus Call the Deaconess dedicated nurse triage line, to check your symptoms before visiting the hospital. 812-450-6555 $20 CASH Affordable Adjustments BOWLING CHIROPRACTIC CENTER chiropractic SCHEDULE TODAY! 812-254-0246 312 East Main Street, Washington • BowlingChiropractic.com By James Capozella Press-Dispatch Sports sports@pressdispatch.net Although the Coronavirus has cur- tailed, postponed or canceled most large gatherings around the country, Pike County's Jacob Bohnert was able to finish his collegiate swimming ca- reer for Estherville, Iowa Lake College by placing in the National Junior Col- lege Athletic Association Swimming Finals (NJCA A) recently. The early March, four-day event in- cluded 11 teams from around the coun- try to race at Fort Piece, Fla. Rather than being concerned about the Coro- navirus threat, backstroke swimmers like Jacob competed outdoors in bright sunlight, a new twist for swimmers who had spent two winters training and competing indoors. Nonetheless, Bohnert posted some top ten finishes that included three per- sonal best times. His best individual finish was seventh in the 50 freestyle, followed by 8th in the 100 free, 12th in the 100 butterfly and 13th in the back- stroke. Bohnert was a leg in the Lakers 400 free relay, which placed fourth on the podium. Bohnert was also a team member in the 800 free and 200 free relays that placed fifth. He was also apart of the 400 medley relay that was sixth overall. Bohnert just recently returned home to Petersburg with his parents, Mike and Beth, and is finishing his Iowa Lake College classes online. Bohnert said, "Our team finished sixth at the NJCA A Swimming Finals. That was my first outdoor meet since joining the Iowa Lakes Lakers in 2018." He said it is always different swimming outdoors, especially the backstroke, but the sunshine was bearable, espe- cially after spending two winters in Io- wa. In 2019, the championships were held at an indoor pool in Buffalo, N.Y. The team went sightseeing and found Niagara Falls to be frozen. The tem- perature difference was a bonus for swimming in Florida. By the end of the week, temperatures dropped and the outdoor pool proved to be a bit chilly, but being in Florida was still a great way to end the season. Bohnert reflected on his Pike Cen- tral days, stating, "I swam the 200 yard freestyle and 100 yard backstroke and graduated in 2018. Pike Central helped me to better myself and become faster so I would be able to swim at the col- lege level. My personal bests (in NJ- CA A) were in the 100 free, 50 free and 100 fly." Regarding his future, Bohnert said he is taking electrical technolo- gy classes and plans on working for a while after the end of the semester. BOHNERT COMPETES IN NJCAA SWIM FINALS Pike County's Jacob Bohnert was able to finish his collegiate swimming career for Estherville, Iowa Lake College by placing in the National Junior College Athletic Association Swimming Finals recently. Local Little Leagues on hold By Andy Heuring Press-Dispatch Sports sports@pressdispatch.net Petersburg Little League and Winslow Youth League baseball are on hold for now. Winslow's Christi Ful- tz said the youth sports league is meeting on Sun- day, March 29 to discuss their future plans. "We will find out where we go from there," said Fultz They had originally planned to start their sea- son on April 20. Petersburg was sup- posed to start April 6. "I'm sure it isn't going to be April 6," said Little League president Tim Stafford. He said they had sched- uled to open the sea- son on April 6 after Pike County School original- ly planned to reopen on that date. However, since then all the schools in In- diana have been closed un- til May 1. Stafford said they would be meeting again on April 6 to discuss what to do. He said they probably will just delay the start of the sea- son as long as they can. Stafford said he is think- ing if the COVID-19 lock- down drags on, they may look to a fall season. "This is just me talking, not the board. But we don't want to have three- and four- year-olds out there in mid- dle of July. Hopefully all of this will be over quickly and get out of here so we can get on with things," said Stafford. This is Stafford's first year as league president. He said dealing with Coro- navirus was the last thing he thought he would have to be dealing with when he accepted the role as pres- ident. "Who would think anything like this was go- ing to happen? " said Staf- ford. CAP'S COMMENTS By James Capozella High School and oth- er sports schedules are for the most part gone and those who compete in track and field, base- ball, softball, golf and tennis are practicing on their own for a season that might never get off the ground. Track, soft- ball and baseball would have already had their first competitions, and golf and tennis typical- ly open the first week in April. But, Coronavirus precautions in the state, country and much of the world has curtailed "so- cial" activities including the Tokyo Olympics. The open areas out doors are about the only place that the new stay- at-home guidelines allow a person to enjoy. Indoor activities can not be large groups and must maintain social distancing (per- sonal). Indoor gather- ing rules have shut down restaurants, courthouses, libraries, bars, city hall, li- cense branches, auctions, churches and many oth- er businesses and gov- ernment entities. Forget about the local clubs, or- ganizations, little league and the like. No bowling. Warrick County has canceled school for the rest of the year. Resorts, lodges, parks and many other recreation desti- nations, including cruise lines, have been shut- tered. Even the deceased and their relatives are im- pacted by the COVID-19 mandates, delaying ser- vices, causing private burials and graveside ser- vices. May 1 is looking like a starting point for spring sports for area schools and also maybe the turn- around date for this world- wide pandemic we are fac- ing. It has been said that young and old alike will find new activities and in- terests that don't require large group socializing and will be important en- deavors that people can enjoy and appreciate while contending with the new restrictions. Hopefully these restric- tions and recent flu inoc- ulations will have an ef- fect on seasonal flu cases. Last year, 37,000 Ameri- cans died from seasonal flu, down from 61,000, ac- cording to U.S. News and World Report. At least for the flu, we have a shot that seems to take care of it, but is not mandated by government. Spring sports may still have a chance By Andy Heuring Press-Dispatch Sports sports@pressdispatch.net The high school spring sports season still has breath, but it is gasping. It appears at best there will be two weeks before the state tournaments start in most sports. Schools in Indiana are going to be out through May 1. So it is believed they will return on Mon- day, May 4. Once they re- turn, they must get five practices in. The Indiana High School Athletic As- sociation has modified its required practice rule to only five practices from the previously required 10 practices. If schools return on May 4, the earliest possi- ble competition date would be Saturday, May 9. That leaves less than two weeks for most sports before the state tournaments begin. Girls' track sectional is set for May 19 and boys' track on May 21. Softball has sectional dates from May 20 -25. Baseball is from May 27 to June 1 and boys' golf is set for June 5 -8. Pike Central Athletic Di- rector Dustin Powell said, "The hopes are we can get back and have some sea- son for these kids. Some of them are one-sport ath- letes." However, he said it is especially difficult for the team-oriented sports like baseball and softball. "Some kids may have par- ents who can go out and throw with them and some may have nets or tees to hit off of," said Powell. But it still isn't like practicing with the team. At best, it is going to be a short season, but there is still hope to have some type of season.