Over the next couple of weeks, we are going to highlight letters written by seniors whose season was cut short due to the COVID-19 outbreak. While this season ended abruptly, we wanted to offer them an opportunity to tell their story. Their season might be over, but their impact and story live on.


To the season that could have been,

For AIC softball this could have been the best season we've had in a while. In my four years of competing in Florida and representing the Yellow Jackets, this year we won more games than ever before during the trip. This is without being given the opportunity to finish our scheduled games. We truly believed in ourselves, in our talent, our hard work, and our consistency. We placed a chip on our shoulder as a collective and wanted to prove not only to ourselves but to the NE10, that we were a different team this year. We had higher expectations and standards, everyone was determined to put their all into every rep, practice, and game. A major factor in what we believed would add to our success was accountability, we held ourselves and our teammates to a higher standard. It wasn't enough to just work at practice but even in our free time, we sought ways to get better. After playing two games on Thursday, we received the news that our season has been suspended, and we were all so heartbroken. We felt every emotion you can think of. There were many tears, lots of confusion and anxiety of not knowing why this was happening and what was to come next. For seniors that might not be able to play again, this was completely heartbreaking, not knowing if that had been our last game ever. Moving forward as seniors we are unsure of what the future holds for any of us. If we're given the opportunity to continue our playing careers we will have to make the best decision for ourselves and our futures. It was an honor being a part of this program, and wouldn't take it back for anything! I am very grateful AIC gave me a chance to show the player I am today, thankful for all the friends and memories I will have for a lifetime.

-Lydia DePina #22