During the past 15 months, athletics at all levels were impacted by a deadly coronavirus pandemic. Games were canceled or forfeited. Seasons were paused. Players and coaches had to quarantine because of positive or inconclusive test results or contact tracing. Attendance at sporting events was limited or disallowed.

In the end, though, seasons were played and champions were crowned.

Area coaches, athletes, administrators and more give their accounts of what it was like to go through a season with COVID-19 as a backdrop:

“For me, I honestly just took everything in stride and tried not to let myself stress about too much. I’ve had to make a conscious effort to not allow negativity or stress to occupy space in my mind, as I’ve learned throughout the years that fixating on the negative things in life is detrimental to my overall well-being. I tell my athletes that we can only control what we can control. Our response to adversity is in our control, what that adversity is, isn’t in our control. A global pandemic is out of my control; risk mitigation rules that are put in place are simple enough to abide by and doing my part to slow the spread and prevent shutdowns is in my control. Postponements, forfeits, and pauses were all valid concerns, and as much as they were painful or annoying to deal with, we all knew that they were possibilities going into each season. We tried to do as much as we could to reduce those chances and across the board were pretty successful.” — Kaeleen Zeleznak, Harlan assistant athletic trainer

“It was difficult because you just never knew. Each day you just prayed and hoped there would be a tomorrow.” — Heather Sledge, New Braunfels volleyball coach

“I just think it’s going to be a year that nobody’s ever going to forget. There was just so much going on. In the midst of everything, we were able to compete. It’s crazy that in our pictures we’re wearing masks and it’s going to be interesting to just look back and think of what was going on around us. It definitely brought us all closer. That’s something I’ll remember. The first time I wore a mask, I think I was confused and I had no idea what was going on, and I just knew we were going to be in a whirlwind of a year. It definitely was kind of nerve-wrecking at first. You’re always worried about getting your test results back and making sure that you’re going to be cleared and able to play. After a while, it was just kind of the routine.” — Callie Cook, University of Tulsa volleyball player and Alamo Heights graduate

“It was easier to hammer home protocols this season because we could see what happened last year. We had one game left before going into playoff last year and had the rug pulled out. Our seniors helped lead the younger ones, reminding of protocols, etc. We had seniors from last year come talk to them about what it was like to miss out on finishing the season last year and to cherish the ride.” — Jason Adkins, Smithson Valley girls soccer coach

“Obviously, I can’t control the student body. A lot of people — and it’s not in a bad way — they don’t have the same mindset. We test positive, or even if we’re around somebody who tests positive, we’re out for a minimum 10 days, and a lot of us can’t afford that. If the student body could just help us, wear your mask. Limit the partying. … If they could limit that and try to stay as healthy as possible, I think that will help us.” — Kellen Mond, Texas A&M football player and Reagan graduate

“For me, the first thing that went through my head was, ‘Am I going to have night sweats? Am I going to have a fever? Am I going to be coughing in a few days? Am I not going to be able to smell the delicious food I just made? Are all of my senses going to be gone?’ Just not knowing how it affects your body truly was scary for me.” — Savannah Guzman, Texas-Tyler volleyball player and Antonian product

“The ever-looming possibility of cancellations or sending large numbers of kids home due to positives weighed heavy on all of us. Head coaches carried a ton of this burden. We knew early on that ‘this was what it was.’ The focus in the fall was celebrating we were having the opportunity to play. Teams were going to lose games they shouldn’t lose, and some programs were going to miss playoff opportunities due to having to quarantine players/coaches. Much of the challenge was trying to make sure we were as fair as possible on things ISD’s handled very differently but were out of all our control. Scheduling was very difficult and something that changed by the hour depending on what school had positive cases.” — Scott Lehnhoff, Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD athletic director

“The fall was probably one of the most difficult times, I think, in my coaching tenure because you were training, you were training, but nothing in sight. For the longest time, we didn’t know when we would have our next match, if we were going to have anything. The girls kept saying they were mostly in favor in playing in the fall because they felt like if we waited until the spring, it would get canceled, too. The challenge was to keep them motivated to come in every day. We’re teachers of the game, we love to do that part of it, but another big part of coaching is game prep, getting ready for another team. While coming out there every day and just trying to perfect your skills was good for us, it got to be a challenge.” — Laura Neugebauer-Groff, UTSA volleyball coach

“We’re just happy to be in the gym and playing. That’s what really matters to us. If we have to keep face masks on the whole time, it’s OK. The only time it really sucks is when we’re in our (auxiliary) gym that doesn’t really have A/C, and it’s a humid day, and it gets really hot, and those face masks get wet. It feels like you’re being water-boarded at times.” — Chloe Patton, Angelo State volleyball player and La Vernia graduate

“I asked my team to take every opportunity and make the most out of every time they stepped onto the court. We worked hard at every practice and worked through the adversities of managing different types of learners and schedules this year. It has been a very much ‘whatever it takes’ mentality, adjusting and finding how to make it work with off-campus students, COVID regulations, and managing the overall program.” — Desiree Lara, Highlands volleyball coach

“I was so happy when we were able to complete full cross country, team tennis, volleyball and football seasons. We try our best to keep staff and students safe and realize that we will need to continue to be flexible with all the postponements and cancellations. We use what we have learned from the fall to develop our winter and spring plans. Also, I pray a lot.” — Liana Tyler, former Comal ISD athletic director

“There were definitely times where I put myself at risk for exposure. I learned very quickly how serious it can get when put into quarantine (for two weeks). Having to be locked up in your apartment, away from training and teammates, getting food delivered to your door, it takes a lot out of you. At (the SEC championships), we were tested before we left (campus), when we arrived, during the middle of the meet, and when we got home. It was a lot, but the fact we got to compete this year, safely, made it all worth it.” — Maddie Clifton, LSU swimmer and Brandeis graduate

“Once we lost my sophomore year (in the 2019 UIL Class 6A state final) to Flower Mound, the next day we knew that it was either state championship or burst the next year. With COVID ruining our year (in 2020), it was a bummer. We knew it was right there in front of us. For it just to be snatched from us, it was a heartbreaker and gut-wrenching. But we knew the next year, it had to be our year or else all of this work was for nothing. With COVID, I made sure our team was wearing their masks, doing what they needed to do. We knew at any moment our season could’ve been canceled. We were taking all concerns and being safe with everything. I’m glad we did, because it worked out in the end.” — Joey Batrouni, LEE boys soccer player

“It’s so hard being with a mask continuously, and that goes for in the weight room, during practice, even when we’re just hanging out with each other, even in your dorm. You needed to stay safe. I definitely think there was a little bit of an emotional piece to all of it, but I think that as a team we tried to do well at following all of those protocols.” — Cat Cruz, St. Mary’s volleyball player and Churchill graduate

“It was strange for me, mentally, to have to realize that everything is different now and that things are going to be thrown at you where maybe a match is going to get canceled or maybe one of my roommates got COVID, and so I can’t play. Mentally, for me, it was super-hard and it was frustrating. I think coming into practice there was a little bit of anxiety. — Annamarie Alvarez, University of the Incarnate Word volleyball player

“I think the toughest part of playing during the pandemic was mental. The separation from our teammates in order to protect our season was a big challenge. We were a new team, and coming together and bonding while socially distanced was tough. We didn’t ride buses together, we didn’t have team meals together, and we weren’t all at school getting hyped for games. The fear that the season could be canceled at any moment was always there, and that was mentally challenging for me, as well.” — Teah Vloedman, Brandeis soccer player

“Whenever we finally got back in the gym as a team, it was such a good feeling, knowing that everybody put in the work so that we’re ready for this time. The whole season was different. We’re getting tested every week. Traveling is different, so that you can’t fly. I’m just glad we were able to play in the fall, because I know a lot of teams weren’t able to. — Jillian Slaughter, Texas State volleyball player and Madison product

“There was definitely doubt in all of our minds about whether we would be able to return during 2020 based on the significance of the public health situation and how little was known about transmission in the early stages.” — Tim Holt, managing director for San Antonio FC, to San Antonio Business Journal

“We wear our mask 24-7 at school and during practice and anywhere we go outside of our home, basically. We knew how much this season mattered to us and we didn’t want anyone to actually get COVID.” — Mabry Herrmann, D’Hanis volleyball player

“I know our very first match; the other team had masks not really over their noses, just kind of over their mouths. I remember going up to my coach and was like, ‘Hey, are they going to pull up their masks?’ (Contracting COVID-19) definitely was in the back of my mind. We don’t really know this other team. We don’t know where they’ve been.” — Julia Deais, St. Mary’s volleyball player and Johnson graduate

“It was really stressful most of the season because we’re all trying hard to stay at home, only hanging out with each other, wearing our mask 24-7. It kind of made high school not very enjoyable because in order to keep our senior season, we had to stay at home. It kind of was a blessing and not a blessing, because we kind of made our senior year not what we expected, but it also brought us 10 times closer.” — Anna Crittendon, Ingram volleyball player

“We were a little worry being out in (Los Angeles), which is like a hotspot for COVID out in California. And with their stricter rules, we thought that maybe there wouldn’t be a season for us specifically, or maybe our conference. We really didn’t know. During the fall, we were just working with our mindset being we were going to play. If worse comes to worse, and things don’t work out for us, then we will adjust from there.” — Maja Kaiser, University of Southern California beach volleyball player and Smithson Valley graduate