24
Sports
March 2O21
GOING VIRTUAL FOR THE VICTORY Article by Cate Williams Photo by Anuha Tatineni
Success within the winter season pushed many athletes to attend school virtually. As a result, the parking lot now sat empty, revealing the blank rows that were once filled with cars. To eliminate the fear of being quarantined, Assistant Athletic Director Rita Kienle created an option for athletes to commit to two-weeks of remote learning. In response, the boys varsity basketball and boys varsity soccer team made this switch, resulting in a majority of the upper class at home. One of the teams that took up on this offer was the girls varsity soccer team. With COVID-19 case numbers rising on campus, the team felt it was at high risk for losing out on the post season. In previous years, the team had successfully made it to district semi-finals and beyond, and with new athletes and a long season of training, the girls expected to make another deep playoff run. In the face of strong competition, the girls needed full participation from every teammate, but with most girls in face-to-face learning, there is always a risk of being exposed to COVID-19.
According to junior Kara Wilcox, the team set to make it to regionals. Unfortunately due consistently dealt with challenges due to the to several injuries, the team lost in the district virus. Over the course of the season, several final game against Lake Highland. They still girls were contact traced at school and could advanced, but lost in their first regional game not participate in against West Shore. any games or pracBut luckily, without tices for two weeks. “I think bonding together as a interference from Along with this, three team is a big part of success. Al- contact tracing, the games were cancelled team was able to finbecause girls from the though we still have a lot of play- ish the season. opposing team had ers who are still connected from While still sucbeen exposed. cessfully completing past years, the new girls don’t their postseason, the The players had worries that in-per- have as close of relationships girls were unable to son learning would with everyone else.” participate in their be detrimental to the usual team bonding team during playoffs. - Kara Wilcox, Junior activities like gameWith the encourageday lunches and team ment of head coach sleepovers. Although Joseph Avallone, the team ultimately made this may seem insignificant, it prevented new the decision to commit to the remote learning players from creating strong relationships with option, ensuring that each athlete would be their teammates, an important factor in perpresent for games. forming well. In order to advance to the regional playoffs, “I think bonding together as a team is a big the girls had to place top two in the district. part of success,” Wilcox said. “Although we After winning in their semi-final game against still have a lot of players who are still connectCornerstone, they had done just that and were ed from past years, the new girls don’t have as close of relationships with everyone else.” With the season finished, the remote learning option was effective in preventing any COVID-19 exposure or mandatory quarantine for the girls on the team. Able to play in their last few games, the option allowed the team to reach its full potential. “I was so glad to have the option to go remote because the last thing I wanted was to be contact traced and not be able to go to the playoffs,” Wilcox said.
Like the rest of her teammates, Kara attended school from home during her team’s postseason run. This allowed her to avoid contact tracing and stay safe from COVID-19.
