By Trevor Wenners
Assistant Director of Sports Information
Turning a negative into a positive is not an easy task.
Just like every other community, LaGrange College was hit with the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. The announcement on the cancellation of the remaining spring sports' season on March 13 was not an easy pill for the Panther student-athletes to swallow. In the darkest moments, there is always hope. Sophomore Landon DeLamar of the LaGrange softball team has noticed a positive development emerging among the Panther community.
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| Landon DeLamar posted four multi-hit games in 2020 for the Panthers. |
"I believe 100 percent that this pandemic is encouraging our professors, staff and students to be more connected than ever," said DeLamar. "Although we are social distancing, we are all in constant communication and our leaders are working diligently to make sure everyone is safe and understood. LaGrange has instilled top-level leadership qualities in all of us, so we will overcome this and be better for it."
It is still a sour moment for the student-athletes, especially the spring seniors, as some have played their last game in a Panther uniform. The seniors could earn an additional year of eligibility, but it is unclear which ones will choose that path at this moment. The flood of emotions was present in the competitive young men and women.
"When the season ended, my mind was full of sadness, anger, confusion and regret," said DeLamar. "I was sad that our seniors played their last game, without knowing it was their last. I felt angry because our team worked diligently and was successful."
Even though it was tough to accept, DeLamar and the entire Panther community understood the decision made by the USA South Conference and NCAA. Difficult times can create a bigger-picture view. It is a great opportunity for resolve and mental toughness, which are both qualities that athletes are accustomed to showing in their day-to-day lives.
"I have realized that I am resilient and can overcome tragedy with a religious perspective," said DeLamar. "The NCAA had to do whatever it took to keep the country from having a much worse health issue. I am grateful to have two more seasons. I am confident that each one of my senior teammates will be successful in life."
DeLamar will be at the forefront of the Panthers' future. She was having a breakout season, featuring outstanding defensive plays at second base. The Opelika, Alabama, native tallied 27 assists and 22 putouts, robbing numerous batters of base hits. The young woman ranked second for LaGrange (7-5, 2-0 USA South) in batting average (.441) and on-base percentage (.512).
DeLamar engaged in a Q&A segment, addressing the seniors and the ways in which she has stayed in contact with her teammates.
Q: How have you stayed active over the last few weeks?
A: I have been able to stay active because my parents have a small, home gym. I have continued to work out at least four times a week, with three being lifts. Since working out is a hobby of mine, it has been one of the easier transitions from school to home.
Q: How deep do you think the 2020 team could have gone?
A: This year's team had a great beginning and we were going to give every team that we played a good showing. There is no telling what we could have accomplished, so it is heartbreaking that we did not get a chance to prove that.
Q: You mentioned the seniors. Could you give readers a quick description of each one?
A: McKenzie Brunel: Her offense is clutch and her speed around the bases scored many runs. Lauren DeLoach: Her defense was consistent this year and her quick reflexes saved us some games. Taylor Long: I admire the confidence she has when she steps into the box with her game face. The way she steals bases on the outside corner is the best that I have ever seen. Riley Densmore: Besides her team-leading batting average of .459, I loved when she was our catcher because I trusted her to be there to protect home plate when I threw for the out. I knew her throw down to second would be right on target.
Q: Which senior had the greatest impact on you?
A: As much as they have all impacted me, I would say Riley had the greatest impact on me. She was the first person I met when I went to orientation the summer before my freshman year. Riley was my orientation-team leader and made me love LaGrange. Because of her greatness in that role, I went on to become an orientation-team leader. We are in the same sorority, Phi Mu, so we are more than teammates. We are sisters. Her values and work ethic are inspiring, but Riley's zest for life makes her the most impactful.
Q: How do you stay connected with your teammates?
A: The social-distance guidelines and the fact that our season was cancelled were never going to stop our team from staying connected. We are family, and no pandemic is going to come between our relationships. Our team stays in contact every day. We have a GroupMe chat and a Snapchat group. We usually start every conversation with, 'I miss you guys.'
Q: Could you talk about your constant improvement?
A: I am grateful that head coach Jennifer Claybrook gave me 16 starts as a freshman. As a rookie, my mental game was lacking. This past offseason, I worked on my focus and approached the game differently. Instead of saying, 'I hope I can make this play,' I said, 'Watch me make this play.' There is always something to tweak. I will continue to work, so I can make a huge comeback for my junior year.
Q: Without any live sports on TV, how do you stay entertained?
A: I keep asking myself the same question. I have seen everything there is to watch on Netflix. Recently, I have been watching the news to check in and keep up with what is changing during this pandemic. It is interesting to see how our leaders are managing our cities, states and country. Hopefully, we will be through all this in time for football season. I cannot imagine the South without football.
Trevor Wenners can be reached at twenners@lagrange.edu.
