Life. It’s a simple four letter word but it’s so much tougher than it looks.

In times like this where everything you’re accustomed to doing is disrupted and put on hold, life can be challenging. And I’m sure that’s what all high school athletes are going through right now.

Teams, players and coaches were all looking forward to the start of the next chapter of their high school careers, but now that’s all in jeopardy.

The spring sports season is suspended until April 20. It’s a tough pill to swallow for everybody, but especially the athletes who have put countless hours in during the offseason to get better.

The coronavirus has unfortunately taken opportunities for athletes around the world to compete over the coming weeks and months but here in Idaho there is still hope that a return is in sight, a season can be salvaged and seniors will get one last chance to create memories they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.

Three weeks. That’s how much longer we’ll have to wait to see Priest River athletes take the field, the track and the golf course for the first time this season. But with the number of COVID-19 cases increasing by the day in Idaho and President Donald Trump extending social distancing guidelines until the end of April, that return date will most certainly change in the coming days.

We have to consider the possibility that the Spartans baseball, softball, track and golf teams may never get a chance to play this season.

Despite that, none of the athletes in Priest River should stop doing what they love. Keep working out in your bedroom. Keep practicing your throwing motion. And keep holding your follow through.

Why? Because with all this uncertainty about if or when the season will begin, one thing is certain — the passion you have for the sport you play.

Nothing can break that.

As the sports editor here at the Bee, I just as much as anyone else want to see Spartan athletes compete this season. I signed up to tell the stories of amazing kids and teams and currently I’m struggling to fill my pages as I have close to nothing to write about it.

But I know there is stories out there and I want to hear them. So if you’re a current spring athlete at Priest River High, I want to know what you’re doing to stay busy. Are you sitting on the couch all day playing video games? Or are you doing everything you possibly can to be outside while maintaining your social distance from others?

Email your stories to [email protected] and I’ll make sure to get them in the paper. The same goes for Sandpoint and Clark Fork athletes.

And for the seniors out there, if the season is canceled just know that you will get your moment to shine in this paper. You will be able to submit a letter about your high school career and photos as well because everyone deserves a senior night.