QUARANTINE: Diary of a senior student-athlete

Western Wayne senior Trina Barcarola, like all of her senior classmates and fellow student-athletes, is home now.

They are first and foremost trying to stay healthy and doing their part to stall the spread of the coronavirus by remaining out of school as ordered by Gov. Tom Wolf.

In the big picture, sports are reduced to not much more than activities when lives are being lost and people are on the front lines battling those who are infected. This is not lost on our youth in the area.

And to them, sports are an important part of their lives. Many, like Barcarola, have dedicated many hours of their lives to excel and achieve greatness. And in her case, the two-time state champion, earned a scholarship to the University of Virginia. Finances that are crucial to her receiving a degree which provides for her a bright future.

Last year, Barcarola had such outstanding performances in volleyball, indoor track and field, and outdoor track and field, she earned The Times-Tribune Female Athlete of the Year honors. As a junior, that added great inspiration to an already highly motivated teenager heading into her senior year.

In the fall, she helped Western Wayne win its first District 2 Class 3A championship and had all-star and All-Region honors to show for it.

During the indoor season, Barcarola stood out among the best in Pennsylvania, again. She ranked No. 5 in the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 8.47 seconds, No. 12 in the 60 hurdles at 9.22 seconds and No. 7 in the pole vault at 12 feet, 5.5 inches, all verified on pa.milesplit.com.

She hit the ground running for the outdoor season. Western Wayne earned the preseason nod by the coaches in the Lackawanna Track Conference Division II. But, the coronavirus threat put this season on hold. And not just the season, but the ability to go to school, to create and share in memories with classmates one final time before graduation.

To cope with the isolation, and the removal of track and field, a great love of her’s, from life and the daily routine, Barcarola takes long walks with her dog. She works out as often as she can, maintaining a hope that fades a little more with each passing day.

So, Barcarola started a journal, to chronicle what her days are like. … One she is sharing via ON THE BLOG.

 

Here is her first installment: 

 

I have finally come to the realization and acceptance that my time as a senior in school may have an abrupt ending because of an extremely serious and scary pandemic.

In the midst of countless prayers and precautions measures to keep my family and friends safe, I cannot help contemplating the effect these drastic measures might have on the rest of senior year.

It seems unfathomable to think the memories of my graduation, prom, spirit games, and simply walking through the halls of a school that has given me so much can vanish in an instant. Pondering just these few things are troubling, but what throbs the most is the Western Wayne track and field uniform that lays folded and unused in my drawer.

It hurts more than I thought it would.

I miss training hard with my team and being challenged by my coaches. I miss laughing all together, tripping on hurdles and my coach yelling at me from the front of the runway to stop dancing and start pole vaulting. I think of the ways I could have finished my high school career by showing my growth and improvement in my craft, the sport I love so much.

My mind could travel forever in the direction of these despairing thoughts; although, I learned to accept a beautiful concept that I never thought I could, which is most appropriately phrased in the serenity prayer:

“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the

things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference.”

Holding this close to my heart, I wake each day with a sense of peace and purpose, and ask

myself …

“How can I use the gifts I’ve been given to change the world today?”

TRINA BARCAROLA

Western Wayne, Class of 2020

 

 

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