One last ride after COVID steals these seniors’ last season
Alex Burroughs, Staff Writer
Imagine being a senior collegiate athlete, dedicating four long years of your life to the sport you love and, in an instance, having it ripped from you.
The reason wasn’t because of an injury or lack of eligibility but because of an unforeseen virus that tore through the world.
Taylor Lanzillo of the North Greenville Men’s Lacrosse team, Emily Beisecker of the North Greenville Women’s Track and Field team and Tevin Richardson of the North Greenville Men’s Track and Field team were three athletes who unfortunately went through this very ordeal.
Photo courtesy of Instagram @taylorlanz28
Taylor Lanzillo had received the news that the season would be cancelled just a few days after playing a game against Mars Hill University.
Lanzillo described the moment as heartbreaking and said, “I had put so much into my athletic career.”
Photo courtesy of Emily Beisecker
Emily Beisecker was just coming off her indoor track season and preparing to begin her outdoor season, which included her primary event the 400-meter hurdles when she was told that her team would no longer be competing.
It was hard news to bear for Beisecker because of all the training and preparations she had done in the fall to compete in an event she was best at and loved.
Photo courtesy of Tevin Richardson
Tevin Richardson, who set records for the school in the 200-meter and 400-meter event in 2019, was looking forward to a promising senior year until the news broke.
Tevin expressed that as a senior, the news was not only difficult to accept but also stressful.
As days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months, the cloud of uncertainty hung over many athletes’ heads of whether or not they would get to compete again.
Fortunately, the NCAA agreed that athletes should receive an extra year of eligibility.
Now came a difficult choice, return for another year or hang the jersey up and leave collegiate sports in the past?
Each of the three athletes proudly chose to run it back for another year.
“It means the world to me to be able to finish off the right way,” Lanzillo said when deciding on whether to come back for another year. “Finish my career off on a good note.”
While being able to compete again and truly finish his senior year is a driving factor for him, he is also working on obtaining his Masters in Business Administration at North Greenville.
Beisecker’s original path was to begin her Master of Occupational Therapy in May of 2020, but with the opportunity to lace up her cleats one more time, she decided to put the program on hold for another year.
“I can work forever … but this is my last opportunity as an athlete,” said Beisecker.
Her track coaches were able to cover her full tuition while she continues to take classes at North Greenville.
Richardson mentioned his main reason for returning was influenced by his coach David Pickett.
“He’s a God gift of a coach and I have nothing but respect for that man,” said Richardson.
He has continued his academics this year by picking up a minor in criminal justice.
For these athletes and many more like them, the chance to once again compete after a season cut tragically short is nothing more than a blessing.
