College seniors split on whether to use extra year

<p><strong>O</strong>n the softball diamond, IUPUI second baseman Mandy Dallas was used to making decisions that affect her team.</p><p>The senior recently made one that impacts her own future.</p><p>Dallas, a spring sport athlete thought to be in her final season of athletic eligibility, is, like thousands of others nationwide, being given the chance for a do-over because of the shortened season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]<p>On March 30, the NCAA announced it would permit spring sport athletes who had their seasons shortened by the coronavirus outbreak to have an additional year of eligibility.</p><p>But as much as the former Center Grove infielder enjoyed college softball, she’s decided to pass on returning to the Jaguars for the 2021 season.</p><p>Dallas, a four-year softball starter who aspires to eventually own her own law practice, will continue her education this fall at the Indiana University Robert H. McKinley School of Law in Indianapolis.</p><p>“I think it’s just going to be done. I don’t think I could handle softball and law school,” Dallas said. “I think it would be a heavy load. Obviously, it wasn’t a favorable outcome. I wish I had those last couple of months of the season, but it is what it is.</p><p>“I’m still sad about it, but I’ve accepted it.”</p><p>Two of Dallas’ former classmates at Center Grove, Indiana Wesleyan baseball players Tye Thixton and Conner Cantrell, are taking opposite paths after their 2020 season was halted 19 games in.</p><p>Thixton, a center fielder and the team’s leadoff hitter, plans to return for the 2021 season. Right-handed pitcher Cantrell will not.</p><p>“I’m going to take my next season and play it. I will have a semester (of classes) left starting next school year, so it makes sense,” said Thixton, who transferred to IWU from Danville Area Community College in Illinois. “I was probably going to end up helping here as a volunteer coach in the fall, but then I got eligibility back.</p><p>“It’s a little bit bittersweet because I was off to a hot start this season. As a team, we were ready to just keep playing.”</p><p>Cantrell’s situation is different. He was married last August and is moving this month to his wife Bianca’s home city of Chicago to work for her family’s painting and drywall business.</p><p>“Coming back to play didn’t really cross my mind. The job and being married kind of took precedence,” Cantrell said. “I would love to play again, but at this point it wouldn’t be the best thing for me to do.”</p><p>University of Indianapolis baseball player Will Smithey, a catcher, will be back with the Greyhounds next spring. Smithey, who carries a 3.7 grade-point average as a mathematics major, plans to pursue a master’s degree in data analytics.</p><p>He views having another chance to play the sport he loves a bonus.</p><p>“I was extremely hurt when it went away, but to find out I could come back was a best-case scenario,” said Smithey, a Center Grove graduate. “It was almost like a blessing in disguise.”</p><p>It would seem geography alone would keep Black Hills State softball player Maddie London from returning for another season. Located in Spearfish, South Dakota, the school is 1,160 miles northwest of her hometown of Greenwood.</p><p>London is actually still on campus as she wraps up her schoolwork before making the long drive home for the last time.</p><p>Like Dallas, her former Center Grove teammate, London then plans to get on with the rest of her life. In June, the exercise science major will go to work as a patient care technician for Fresenius Kidney Care in Indianapolis.</p><p>“I don’t plan on returning for another year because I had obligations for after school,” said London, who was leading Black Hills State in home runs (4) and runs batted in (11) when the remainder of the softball season was cancelled. “When I found out, I was heartbroken. Two weeks into the season and it’s over. I don’t wish that on anyone.</p><p>“It’s awesome to get another year to play. I love softball, but I can’t really put my life on hold.”</p>