Season in review: How teams have fared in year of COVID

Senior libero Julia Lima bumps the ball in play. The team swept Coral Glades 3-0 on its Senior Night, Nov. 16.

PHOTO BY JAVIER GARCIA

By Javier Garcia, Sports Editor, and Eduardo Andrade, Editor-in-Chief

Ready to serve

Like many athletes this year, the girls volleyball team had to grapple with the question of whether there would even be a season.

“Because of COVID, I didn’t think there was even a chance to have a season,” Naja Taylor, senior middle blocker said. “But I think the school handled it really well.”

To have a season during a pandemic required many new precautions. “It was amazing to have the

opportunity to play this year,” junior libero Victoria Ferreira said. “Our season was a little different and we had some surprises.”

Wearing masks, tracking oxygen saturation and temperatures, and recording all this information in a daily report through Google Forms all were introduced.

“We also have to be extremely careful because if anyone on our team gets COVID, we would not be able to play for two weeks and (we’d have to) quarantine,” Ferreria said.

The pandemic has even affected how the players respond on the court.

“Volleyball is a very close contact sport (with one another),” Taylor said. “Especially if your relationship with your teammates goes beyond volleyball. Playing involved a lot of hugging and cheering each other on after a good play… we do a lot more yelling than touching now.”

Since it was so clear what was at stake and how easily it could be taken from them, this season felt more important than ever if they were lucky enough to secure one. Through weeks of deliberations and district workshops, practice time and preparation were gradually chipped away. Traditionally, they would begin pre-season practices starting in July, but this season they started in October.

“Especially this year with a shorter season, we have to give our all,” Ferreira said.

Junior Amanda Marsenison lunges to return a serve.

PHOTO BY JAVIER GARCIA

This season was practically gone before these athletes’ eyes. Once it started, they were determined not to waste their chance, going on to a 9-1 record as of Dec. 4 and securing a strong win on Senior Night, taking all three sets over Coral Glades on Nov. 16.

“The underclassmen really outdid themselves and all of us had a great time,” Taylor said. “It was better than I could have ever expected.”

Senior Night was originally scheduled for the first home game of the season in case it needed to be postponed -- and it was, several times. The original two Senior Night games were cancelled due to a tropical storm. The next one was cancelled due to the opposing team having COVID cases.

“To be honest, I’m grateful to have a season at all,” Taylor said. “I’m grateful that I got to play my senior year.”

Taylor, playing her third year on varsity, said that the team’s short preseason forced players to deal quickly with the graduation of last year’s star, Giulia Dias.

“Everyone needed to step up and do their own job, and it took a while for us to work together cohesively, but when we got it, we got it,” Taylor said.

Tackling the pandemic

The football team hasn’t been a stranger to the challenges of this year either. From a shortened season to COVID scares, the team has faced a number of issues that, on their own, would be calamitous.

Early on, senior captain Brayden Larosee had to quarantine for two weeks after someone he came in close contact with tested positive for COVID, leaving the team worried for his health and the future of the season.

“Definitely was worried,” senior linebacker Davine Martinez said. “We were all hoping he and (the other person) were ok and that they would be safe, as well as worried if we had to shut down for two weeks. Brayden is a big part of this team, physically and mentally getting guys going as well as playing very well on the field.”

Around the same time, the cheerleading squad also had to quarantine after a member awaiting COVID test results, which later returned positive, participated in practice. The football team continued to play games because they had already been isolated from the cheerleaders. Everybody involved has since recovered and is in good health.

“We were scared … we definitely got lucky and I’m thankful for it,” Martinez said.

Larosee had a strong bounceback, returning an interception for a touchdown his first game back against Coral Glades on Nov. 20, the team’s Senior Night.

“Definitely one of the best moments of my high school football career watching him run down there and score and celebrating with him, knowing how much work he’s put in all these years,” Martinez said. “It’s amazing that he could show everyone else what he is capable of.”

Despite a strong showing from underclassmen players, the shortened season and certain COVID restrictions have kept the team from getting to spend as much time together as they normally would.

“A lot of (the team) is young and new to football, but we should come together soon,” sophomore cornerback Eric Campbell said. “We have a lot of new players with a shorter season, so we aren’t as close as last year, but we can build that over time.”

Even the team’s pregame rituals, including blasting music and getting rowdy in the locker room, had to change.

“Sadly we aren’t allowed to get hyped in the locker room like that anymore due to COVID only allowing us to have eight people at a time in there,” Martinez said.

Still, players did see some upside to a shortened season.

“(It) brings out more competition with guys knowing that because of the shortened year coaches won’t keep trying to play someone that’s constantly doing something wrong,” Martinez said. “So the young guys are fighting more for playing time which brings out the best in everyone.”

While the situation for the team and the world looks grim at the moment, the team remains optimistic for the seasons to come.

“I feel like we have the potential to do great things but we need to play as a team and work hard,” Campbell said.

Even though the boys soccer practice schedule has been postponed until Dec. 14, the players are still keeping a positive attitude regarding the season and the hard work to come.

“It’s up to each player to practice on their own,” junior goalkeeper Luís Cáceres said.

The team’s first game is scheduled for 5 p.m., Jan. 5 at home against Plantation.

The boys basketball season is scheduled to start games in January, and the players are already practicing for it.

“I think this upcoming basketball season will be tough but I hope we have some fun,” freshman Jaden Odom said.

The football team is sitting on a 0-3 record as of Dec.1.

“I feel like the team has come closer together and that we can finish the season strong,” senior lineman, Diego Orellana said.

Girls basketball tryouts took place before Thanksgiving break.

According to the Broward County Athletic Association website, “Regular season games are tentatively scheduled to begin the week of January 4, 2021,” allowing winter sports teams to qualify for regional and state championships.

Teams have already begun practices, and are preparing for their season.

This year’s boys and girls golf seasons will be postponed until the spring.

“Due to the late start to the fall sports season and current COVID-19 conditions impacting our community, there are currently not enough golf courses,” according to a Broward County Athletic Association statement.

Unlike previous years, the teams will not have the opportunity to play in the regional or state championship. Instead, golfers may qualify for a tri-county (Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties) championship at the conclusion of their revised seasons, BCAA stated.

“It’s unfortunate that the season was postponed until spring,” senior James Kassis said. “But it is understandable as to why it was pushed back due to COVID.”

Senior cross country runners like senior Joel Williams are excited to qualify for championships.

“We’re kind of the team that you wouldn’t ... think would win,” Williams said, “because we have a lot of new people and our veterans who caused us to make it to regionals last year graduated .”

At the beginning of the season, Coach Darius Brown said, “They are going to have to get out and persevere,” and Williams said the runners have definitely achieved that by training hard.

“We don’t walk when we run,” Williams said. “We try to stay in a pack to decrease wind resistance, and we work off each other.”

The team’s final competition of the season is the Tri-County Championships at 8:30 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 12 at South County Regional Park.

Dig it Sophomore Hailey Mull and junior Amanda Marsenison watch as junior Anna Moreira and senior Kate Marsenison dive for the ball. The girls volleyball team beat Coral Glades 25-15, 25-7, 25-23 in straight sets in the gym on Nov. 16.

PHOTO BY JAVIER GARCIA