On a typical signing day, East friends and family rally together in the school cafeteria and celebrate seniors committing to play their sport at the collegiate level. But this year, the college-themed cookies and cheers from teammates have been replaced by signing celebrations with only family members in their households.
Committing is one step towards becoming an athlete for a specific university, but it’s only a verbal agreement and can be changed if one chooses to — signing finalizes the decision.
Senior athlete Will Wynn feels signing is a momentous occasion for high school athletes that warrants a time for gathering and festivities, something he couldn’t fully enjoy this year.
Wynn, a lacrosse player, has been working towards taking his sport to the collegiate level since eighth grade, and this was his year to bring that plan to fruition. This month, Wynn both verbally committed and signed to Rockhurst University and is eager to get on the field to play.
“Normally, you have a group of friends, teammates, and coaches that get together for when you sign,” said Wynn.
But, instead of sitting in a balloon-tied chairs surrounded by his teammates, Wynn celebrated signing day at home in the kitchen with his family, without a special dinner or gathering. The day was that of an average one for him.
“I didn’t celebrate, it was just like a regular day,” Wynn said.
Other East athletes who haven’t signed yet, but plan on doing so this year, such as senior Lee Marshall, hope that things will return to normal by the time their signing day comes around.
Marshall is planning to sign for football at Baker University this spring and is disappointed in the way that signing days turned out this year, but understands why it has to be this way.
“I think that it’s really disappointing and a let down for everyone that doesn’t get to have the normal crowd that they typically could have had,” Marshall said. “But, at the end of the day if that’s what’s going to keep people safe, then we gotta do what we gotta do.”
Marshall is hopeful that things will return to normal by the time his college experience starts, but unsure if that will happen.
“I hope everything will be opened back up again by then,” Marshall said. “Although, considering school is closing again in a few weeks, realistically I don’t think it will be so soon.”
Wynn wasn’t the only athlete that had their signing day look different this year. Senior Sarah Bingham who has played club volleyball since sixth grade didn’t have the option to have a crowd attend her signing as well.
Bingham had already committed to her school of choice, University of Illinois, during her sophomore year and officially signed this year on Nov. 11 which made the overall signing process smoother even with COVID around.
“It’s just been minor changes. I figured out most of my college stuff my sophomore year,” Bingham said. “So, it hasn’t really impacted me much.”
Although the day she signed was still one to remember, Bingham ended up also having her “signing day” at home with her family along with fellow senior Caroline Coleman who is set to play soccer at Pepperdine.
While the social aspect of signing days for athletes may be hindered by COVID, the excitement of officially attending a university is still very real. Despite the lack of a major crowd, Bingham was still excited to be apart of what Illinois has to offer.
“The electric atmosphere of Huff Hall, the amazing resources and opportunities the University has to offer, the welcoming coaches and players on the team, that’s why I chose Illinois,” Bingham said.
As the year goes on, East athletes will continue to handle signing days in their own ways while respecting the circumstances that come with the pandemic.