Show me the money

College hopefuls battle for fewer offers

By Zoey Katz, Staff Intern

Earning a scholarship to play sports in college was already tough, with only only 2% of high school athletes doing so, acording to CBS News. Now, due to the coronavirus, student-athletes have found that the usual scholarship process is even harder.

After playing lacrosse at a high level for six years, junior attackman and midfielder Matt Hicks said that over the summer, COVID-19 definitely affected scouting. During the summer, lacrosse players usually seek national showcase tournaments, where scouts come out to see the young talent. But in 2020, there were about 50% fewer lacrosse showcases than usual because of travel restrictions.

Hicks has been asked to tour several nondisclosed schools but has yet to be offered a scholarship directly.

“I don’t like what COVID has done to me and the sport of lacrosse because it has made it so much more difficult to compete and get a chance to show your talent to coaches and scouts,” Hicks said.

Senior football and lacrosse player Davine Martinez also struggled through the canceled 7-on-7 tournaments, spring games and workouts. COVID-19 more specifically affected the football off-season, forcing players to take on intense workouts and practices to stay competitive.

“It definitely makes it harder, but honestly I think it will be okay because now as a country we have gone through a full season in multiple sports with COVID,” Martinez said.

Martinez was offered to play football at Judson University and is committed to Elmhurst University in Illinois.

Signing early gave senior lacrosse player Erin Wheaton a different experience.

Wheaton committed to North Greenville University in South Carolina as a junior in January 2020, shortly before COVID-19 restrictions went into place, and the process was tough prior to the pandemic too.

“It takes a lot of time and effort, especially in the beginning,” Wheaton said.

During her sophomore and junior years, Wheaton sent out many emails to coaches and took trips to a lot of colleges.

“The biggest thing for me was comparing D1, D2, and D3 options and what was best for me,” Wheaton said, “After a lot of going back and forth... I narrowed it down to two schools, and in the end loved NGU the most.”

COVID-19 is also affecting coaches’ ability to evaluate players and offer aid. According to the National Strength and Condition Association, 16% of college coaches expect losing a few scholarships, and 4% expect to lose the majority of them. The survey also said that coaches expected this trend to extend to following years.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association, or NCAA, has also extended eligibility for athletes in most sports across divisions, which might leave fewer spots available for this year’s class, along with less money, already offered only at the D1 and D2 levels. (See chart below).

“I’ve been focused on training and working really hard... I’m super optimistic about this season because of the opportunities we’re getting and I think our team is prepared to compete and hopefully win,” Wheaton said.

Senior Erin Wheaton prepares to pass the ball to a teamate from behind the goal. The girls lacrosse team beat Ft. Lauderdale 16-10 in its first game of the year on Feb. 17.

PHOTO BY NICOLE TORRES

GRAPHIC BY ZOEY KATZ

Senior Tamya Jefferson dribbles past her opponent in a game against Piper High on Jan. 14. The team lost the game 52-29.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SCOTT GERBER PHOTOGRAPHY

Sophomore McKenzie Jewell (#12) and junior Kobie Jay (#40) celebrate their win against J. P. Taravella on Jan. 8. The team won the game 46-40, marking their first win in three years.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SCOTT GERBER PHOTOGRAPHY

Small turn out, big win

Girls hoopsters beat JPT

By Nicholas Rapalo, Staff Intern

With a short season, a small team and little practice, the girls basketball team managed to have one of its best seasons, finishing 1-7, winning its first game in three years, beating Taravella 46-40 on Jan. 8, and being competitive in the others. Due to COVID-19, the team had a short season and fewer players.

The season should have started around November but didn’t start until the end of December.

“We didn’t have much time to practice for the games,” senior Brielle Flanagin said.

The team was only able to play eight games, due to other schools canceling.

“Many schools are canceling games when there is a break-out,” coach Alex Jenkins said. “We have managed to navigate our way through with no confirmed cases.”

Unlike previous years, the team was not able to be together outside of practices.

“We could have had more team bonding, which would make us play better during games,” Flanagin said. “But I’m pretty happy with how the season turned out for my last year here.”

The team had been improving over the past few years. “This is the first time we won a game since my freshman year,” Flanagin said. “Coach is still developing the team so there’s only improvement from here.”

The boys lacrosse team's first game was on Feb. 23. Many players began practicing on their own before the season began.

“The team turnout this year has been better than previous years,” senior midfielder Tajh Reed said. “Our roster is more experienced and athletic than any other year in the program’s history.”

The boys soccer team’s season ended with a 2-0 loss to Cardinal Gibbons in the district playoffs on Feb. 4.

“I’m feeling like it’s going to be a tough game,” sophomore Jonah Bennett said before the game.

Gibbons eliminated the team from the semi-finals last year with a 7-1 victory.

The loss spurred the boys to train hard as districts neared in hopes to make it to the semi-finals again. “As the season progressed we’ve gotten a lot better,” Bennett said.

Junior Dilan Gobea said that the players overcame their obstacles by playing as a team and trying to take lots of shots.

“Every player is important,” Gobea said.

The girls flag football team had tryouts on Feb. 8 and have been practicing for its first game, at home against SLAM! Charter School on March 3.

Last season the group went 4-0 and was first place in the district before the season was cut short due to COVID-19. Coach Jonathan Firth said this year is a chance to start back up once again, hopefully right where they left off.

The junior varsity boys basketball team finished with an 0-7 record. Despite the results, the group is still optimistic.

“We played the best we had played all year,” freshman point guard Kerrick Wiggins said. “We played with a lot more energy and we actually felt comfortable playing basketball.”

Both boys and girls track placed second in their first track meet of the year at Monarch on Feb. 17, gearing up for their next series of meets Feb. 24 and 27.

“COVID changed the structure of the meets,” senior Vincent Saintilus said. “I believe it's definitely going to be more competitive.”

After months of practice, senior Medjina Dareus said the team’s goal was to “just have the most normal season possible and maybe get some new personal records.”

The girls lacrosse team started the season 2-0 under its new head coach Xavier Johnson, who is also coaching boys lacrosse for the third year.

Three girls are playing lacrosse for the first time, including freshman Zoey Katz.

“Lax not only moves fast, but also has a lot of rules that are confusing, but the first game definitely helped clear a lot of rules up," Katz said after the season opener, a 16-10 win over Ft. Lauderdale Feb. 17.

Sophomore Krystal Felix runs with the ball while freshman Zoey Katz follows in support. The girls lacrosse team defeated Ft. Lauderdale 16-10 on Feb. 17.

PHOTO BY NICOLE TORRES