The result of the cancellation of the spring 2020 athletics season meant that senior athletes would have to cope with losing months of preparation, the ability to represent their school, and the loss of camaraderie they looked forward to with their teammates. Therefore, Stevenson Athletics announced on October 30 that it is launching a new campaign that will honor the 2020 spring senior athletes who lost their final season to the pandemic. The new campaign is being called the 53 Campaign, noting the number of seniors affected. 

Athletes from the spring 2020 semester could not have imagined the news from Stevenson Athletics that all winter and postseason spring seasons were cancelled. COVID-19 had affected their playing days. Athletes from the spring 2020 semester could not have imagined the news from Stevenson Athletics that all winter and postseason spring seasons were cancelled. COVID-19 had affected their playing days.

The significance of the number 53 is that 53 seniors participated in the 2020 spring athletic season and didn’t get the chance to have the acknowledgment and ceremony to celebrate these athletes and send the seniors off the right way. The seniors do have the opportunity to return for one last season thanks to the NCAA granting all spring athletes with an extra year of eligibility. Still, many of them chose to begin their professional careers.

Stevenson Athletic has begun honoring the seniors by posting two senior student-athletes  every day at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on the Stevenson Athletics Twitter account (@GoMustangSports)

The seniors did have the chance to return for one final season thanks to the NCAA granting all spring athletes an extra year of eligibility. Since they would be graduating, many of them would have to choose to begin their professional careers.