The 2019-20 school year has been a wild ride for Iola High senior Gabby Richards, and she isn’t afraid to admit it.
“My senior year was pretty interesting,” Richards said. “From going to state in tennis, to being on crutches in basketball, to just being online for school — it was a hard transfer. But, I have still kept in pretty good touch with my classmates.”
Richards says she has been in touch with a good portion of her friends through a Snapchat group message. The COVID-19 pandemic has surely slowed down the ending of her senior year, but it didn’t start that way.
After missing the 4A girls state tennis tournament by one spot her sophomore and junior seasons, Richards rallied to make the event in her final try.
Luckily back in the fall, there was no coronavirus to slow down Richards’ run to state.
“That would have sucked really bad, and I probably would have cried!” Richards said. “I really wanted to make state the last two years. So making it this season was a big accomplishment that I am proud of.”
After a stellar tennis season, Richards began to gear up for basketball. Richards’ tenure on the hardwood as a Filly had been fraught with injuries her first three years. Three torn right meniscuses had deterred Richards’ progress. So she was looking forward to her final effort.
Richards played a key role for the Fillies in the 2019-20 season before picking up another knee injury on Iola’s homecoming — this time a left-knee injury. The knock would keep Richards out for the remainder of the season, thus ending her Iola athletic career.
“I was pretty surprised how I played in the beginning of the year, especially being out the year before,” Richards said. “I was disappointed because I thought I did contribute to the team, whether it be points, rebounds, or being there as a support system. It was pretty sad not getting to be there with them in the end.”
Even though her final moments were tarnished, Richards still relished the chances she did have this season.
“It was fun, and I have never gotten that type of experience before,” Richards said. “It felt really good just practicing, and getting all of our plays ready for the next game.”
Richards may love basketball, but tennis still owns her heart. She plans on assisting Fillies tennis head coach Chris Belkanp as a volunteer next season as she plans to stay involved with the sport she loves.
The aspect of tennis being more of an individual sport is one she savours.
“I’d rather disappoint myself than have to disappoint a whole team,” Richards said. “Like in softball, you are down one, with the bases and you strike out — yeah that type of thing. You are not just disappointing yourself, you are disappointing the whole team.”
Outside of athletics, Richards has stayed busy as a high school student. Richards was the student body treasurer, a youth basketball coach, and even spent time working at McDonalds, an experience she admits helped her grow as an individual.