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Colbert Column
SPORTS COLUMN Regionals, sectionals will look a bit different this year
Golf and cross country got a boost last week when the IHSA announced that sectionals are being added.
Though a state meet isn’t planned, having sectional is a bit of consolation for those athletes seeking the best competition.
Oregon will host regionals in both boys and girls golf at Silver Ridge on Oct. 6 and 7 and a cross country regional Oct. 24 at Park West.
“Anything that can be done to make this year as normal as possible works for me,” Oregon AD Mike Lawton said. “I’m very happy the kids in that they now get an extra round.”
Golf has been much easier to establish protocols for fans and participants to adhere to than cross country.
According to my neighbor who went to watch his daughter run at Genoa-Kingston on Saturday, spectators were told by the starter that they had to stay at the start/finish line. With only coaches allowed on the course, it seemed a bit onerous.
“Yes, they can do that,” Lawton said. “It is up to local management as to how to best follow the IDPH/IHSA guidelines. Since each course layout in different, sometimes you won’t want people going into areas that could get crowded. We don’t really have that at Park West.”
However, the regional will be different for freedoms allowed the competitors.
“It will be tighter in that the runners themselves will only be allowed on the course for their race,” Lawton said. “They can not watch and
READING MATTERS
Alot has been discussed about online learning. It is a change and many learners of all ages find it is not a positive experience.
What about teaching online?
Northern Illinois University has done an outstanding job of providing extensive training and support for faculty and staff since the sudden shift to online classes in March.
Blackboard Ultra, Kaltura Capture, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Classroom, plus many more ways to submit assignments, journals, monitor tests online, and hold virtual office hours are all a part of how we teach online.
We are all trying our best to make our classes a positive, engaging learning experience.
However, I was not prepared for a session where I was meeting my students online with no cameras on. I was talking to circles with initials.
My students responded somewhat in the chat
COMMENTARY Andy Colbert
cheer for their teammates in other races as they normally would. They must stay in their team camp at all times unless running.”
Since there are 14 teams at a cross country regional, the races will be conducted in flights instead of one big race. That takes away form the spirit of the event, but with a cap of 50 runners per race, that is the only way to put a regional or sectional on.
It will be a long day, as well, with up to six races between both boys and girls instead of just two.
At this point, spectators at the regional will be allowed to roam the course without any major restrictions. One advantage of having meets at Park West is its size compared to other venues, such as Wal-Camp at G-K.
“They must be masked at all time and maintain the 6-foot social distance,” Lawton added. “I’m sure we’ll have more info from the state as we get closer to the Oct. 24 date.”
Normally, Oregon would have been the sectional host, as it has been for past 10 years. But, without knowledge of that being contested, Lawton COMMENTARY Mary Gardner Reading Specialist area and some responded verbally. They virtually “raised their hands” when asked a question.
To be fair, this new way of meeting is an invasion of privacy. Who could have imagined that we would be inviting many people into even a small area of our homes on a regular basis?
I understand why one might choose to keep the camera off.
I left that meeting with a new, strange feeling. I think I have an idea of how the late-night talk show hosts must have felt when they taped their opted for the regional. Instead, the sectional will be at Seneca on Oct. 31.
Another difference is the conference meet being divided into two days, Friday for the boys and Saturday for the girls - all because of COVID19 restrictions.
With how large Silver Ridge is, there shouldn’t be any concerns about intermingling at the golf regional.
The Hawk girl golfers are young, but have a chance to be one of the two teams to advance out of the regional. Dixon and Rock Falls are the ones to beat.
“We’re capable,” coach Jim Spratt said. “We scored 176 against Genoa-Kingston in a meet at Silver Ridge, which I think might be a school record.”
Playing on its home course might be the edge the Hawks need. The boys are also young, with only one senior.
“Our hope is in the future,” Spratt said.
With football, soccer and volleyball not be contested, Spratt ended up with 34 total golfers. Assisting him for the first time was former basketball coach Quinn Virgil.
“I’m thankful for the help Shane Stuart at Silver Ridge gave us too,” Spratt said. “It was nice to have all those kids out.”
On a final Oregon sports note, the softball team is looking for its fourth different coach in five years. After winning the regional in 2017, the pro
Non-remote interaction with students is still important
gram has gone 10-44 the last two years. shows from their basements or garages.
I have been in education for over 45 years. Like most of my colleagues at all levels, one of the joys of teaching that keeps me coming back day after day is the social interaction with students. But the camera does not smile, does not laugh at my jokes, does not show me if students understand.
The pandemic has forced us all to suspend many of our everyday interactions, or at least change them in some way.
Whatever lies ahead, we need to be mindful of this and strive to find ways to keep interacting with our students and with each other.
It seems it is a human need right up there with shelter, food, water, and air. We will have to work extra hard to make it work virtually.
I am also quite sure that we need to be extra kind and have extra patience and understanding for each other as we all work through the changes we are navigating in school and in our world.
