ATHENA — Found on the gridiron in the fall and on the tennis courts in the spring, Weston-McEwen senior LeBraun Albert was really enjoying his junior year. Under the leadership of new head football coach Kenzie Hansell, Albert was excited for what was in store for the team.

“It was a good year. We had some rough games,” Albert said. “Wish we would have won (more) and I wish we would have gone to the playoffs. We were so close. We had one team to beat.”

Albert enjoyed this past season because he saw himself being thrown the ball more at wide receiver. He felt ready to take more responsibility to produce.

“I got the ball more. It felt amazing. You don’t have that feeling in every sport,” Albert said.

Going into early March of last year, Albert was in the midst of starting his third year for the TigerScots tennis team. Just days away from his first organized match, Albert was taken aback to see both school and sports canceled with the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It was just shocking. It really hit hard,” Albert said. “Our first game was against Baker, and it was a couple of days away.”

Now finishing off the rest of his classes at home in front of the computer, the offseason came earlier than expected for Albert. While training at home, Albert relied on many different elements to keep in shape for the entire summer.

“I have my own little weight room,” Albert said. “I had my sister’s husband come over and we’d work out together to keep in shape.”

And with the Oregon School Activities Association having announced that its activities calendar is going to change in response to the coronavirus, Albert will now not be in an organized sport until around March of 2021. Afraid of how long it may take for it to be safe enough to be able to play again soon, Albert said he cannot help but feel worried that there won’t be enough time.

“I’m just fearful because at this point the way that it is going,” Albert said, “if there are more cases along the way — especially in March as soon as we get things going — it might get canceled again.”

With football scheduled for the spring, Albert is interested to see how the season will be played out at a completely different time of the year.

“I’ve never thought something like this would happen,” he said. “I would never thought we would be playing in March.”

After a season spent in pads, Albert will now have to adjust playing football and tennis back-to-back.

“It’s good to have a break between sports. That’s what I like instead of jumping into another sport weeks after,” Albert said.

Through his reservations however, Albert is excited at the prospect of being able to play his last year of sports in high school.

“I’m ready to go right now. I’ve been ready since the summer,” Albert said.

Even though there’s a possibility that he may never don his high school colors again, Albert is choosing to not worry about things in his life like the pandemic that are out of his control.

“I wasn’t patient before this pandemic because I just wanted to play,” Albert said. “I just learned to move on and just go with the flow with it,” Albert said.

Even though he has enjoyed his years playing sports in high school, Albert doesn’t think sports will play a part in his college experience. Later on he hopes to eventually have children where he can coach them in their respective sports.

Favorite sport to play and why?

I think it would be football because it was something I always wanted to play since I was younger. I just love it so much from watching the NFL and college.

Favorite sport to watch and why?

I like watching tennis because it could be intense. It’s a lot more than people think. It’s a mental game. You can get mentally worn out.

Favorite thing to do that isn’t sports related?

It would probably have to be boating.

Best high school athletics moment so far?

In my sophomore year against Baker, winning the toughest tennis match I have ever been in against a player that no one thought I was going to beat.

Fun fact few people know about you?

Not a lot of people know I can saddle a horse and go out in the middle of the country to hunt.