Let us play: Frazier softball player circulates petition to save spring seasons
Frazier蘑菇视频 Emi Curcio watches the ball go into her glove as she catches a pop up during a 2019 WPIAL Class AA quarterfinal playoff game against Vincentian Academy at Pleasant Valley Elementary School. Curcio has penned and circulated a petition directed to the PIAA to carefully consider the cancellation of the spring sports seasons. (Photo by Darnell Graham)
Jim Downey | 蘑菇视频
Jim Downey | 蘑菇视频
Geibel Catholic蘑菇视频 Sherman Daniels watches Frazier蘑菇视频 Emi Curcio roll in a putt on the second green at Pleasant Valley Golf Club in during a Section 2-AA match on Sept. 4, 2019. Curcio wrote and circulated a petition directed to the PIAA to give careful consideration before cancelling the spring sports seasons.
Emi Curcio simply wants to play out her senior season with the Frazier softball team.
Curcio and Lady Commodores are the reigning PIAA Class AA champions and were the runner-up in the WPIAL, and the senior wants the opportunity for one final playoff run.
The senior decided to be proactive and her passion to play out her high school career led her to pen an open letter to the PIAA petitioning the state association to carefully consider all the information before calling off the spring sports seasons.
鈥淚 saw a petition to give college athletes another year. I sat down (last Friday night) around 8 and got down about 10 (p.m.). My mom and dad helped,鈥� explained Curcio. 鈥淚 decided (Friday) night to put it out (on Twitter and social media). Chartiers-Houston is a rivalry on the field, but some of the players helped me get the word out.
鈥淪ome of my friends on the track team helped get the word out. 鈥�
The petition sparked interest far beyond the hopes of Curcio with over 49,000 signatures as of mid-afternoon Sunday.
鈥淚 was hoping to get it around the valley, maybe. It got across the whole state,鈥� said Curcio. 鈥淚 sent it to teammates and they put it to social media. I sent it to our Athletic Director, Mr. (Zach) Keefer and he shared it.
鈥淚 was hoping it would catch fire, and it did.鈥�
The petition reads:
Dear PIAA, Please Do Not Terminate Our Sports Seasons!
My name is Emi Curcio. I am a senior softball player for the Frazier Commodores. My school is located in Fayette County, Pennsylvania.
In light of recent events surrounding the spread of COVID-19, many major sports organizations have been suspending and canceling their seasons to prevent the spread of the virus. Within the past few days, the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) has taken action to hinder the spread of the virus by suspending the remainder of the winter sport seasons. Just today, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf has closed all schools for the next 10 business days. This decision also brings spring sports to a halt until school returns.
It has been brought to my attention that PIAA officials will be meeting within the next few days to make what will likely be a final decision on the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year sports seasons. I would like to outline the sentiments of not only the affected athletes, but also of many teachers, coaches, parents, sports fans, and community members.
As a representative of the groups listed above, I would like to start by saying that I understand the severity of this situation. I also understand that it is ultimately the PIAA蘑菇视频 decision to determine the fate of the season. However, at this time, I wholeheartedly believe that there are many more reasons to continue the postponement until it is deemed safe to play, rather than to cancel the remainder of the seasons.
Being a senior, I am concerned that this may force me, as well as many others, to give up their final season of high school sports. For many, this will be the last chance to achieve longtime goals. Many athletes have spent months perfecting their craft and working on skills to help their teams (and themselves in the case of individual sports) to success during the winter and spring seasons. These athletes have worked hard to have the opportunity to play out their final seasons as a representative of their schools. If the seasons are canceled, these senior athletes will have put on their school uniform for the last time without even knowing it.
Although it is very special to me personally, I am not only concerned for the preservation of the seniors鈥� seasons. I would also like to point out that high school sports are responsible for teaching and reinforcing lifelong skills to many adolescents. They learn leadership and teamwork skills by being a part of these teams. In addition to teaching these crucial skills, it also helps to keep them active. This will help to teach them healthy lifestyle skills, which will help to prevent other potential health issues for them in the future.
All I ask is for the PIAA to take into consideration the fact that the outlook on the spread of COVID-19 may be very different at the end of Governor Wolf蘑菇视频 two week school cancellation. This means that making the decision to terminate the seasons before this preventative measure is fully evaluated could potentially be a bad decision that will directly affect thousands high school athletes across the state. We ask that the season is postponed, rather than canceled, until there is a better grasp upon the situation and its potential severity within the coming weeks.
I would like to thank you for taking the time to read this. By signing this petition, you are helping to communicate the thoughts and feelings of many high school athletes across the state to the PIAA and other proper authorities who are handling this situation. As a representative of these athletes and other affected groups, I would like to thank you for time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Emi Curcio
鈥淚鈥檓 a senior. I鈥檝e watched my friends grow up and see them have their senior day and senior season,鈥� said Curcio. 鈥淲e always have that goal and without the season we can鈥檛 do that.
鈥淢ajor League Baseball and other leagues have postponed their seasons. Governor Wolf just put out the school closure. Maybe there鈥檒l be a different outlook (after the two weeks). You just never know.鈥�
Practice for the spring sports season officially began on Monday, March 2, and most practices (and scrimmages) were able to go forward because of decent weather. Curcio said she and her teammates have been working out independently for the time being.
Curcio蘑菇视频 plea is very simple, and likely shared by athletes, as well as participants in other extracurricular activities, around the state.
鈥淢y hope is to get through to them. A lot of people want the season to go on. It蘑菇视频 definitely a tough decision. They need to give it a chance to work its way out,鈥� said Curcio. 鈥淎s long as we get something in, maybe reduce the schedule to section games.
鈥淚 understand it is a hard decision to make. They have a lot to take into consideration. It can still work.
鈥淎ll I want to do is play.鈥�