We have been living in a confusing and frustrating time for a long while now, but just because it has been a year since the confusion began doesn’t make it any easier.
The Wedge season is essentially the part 2 of the winter season, with volleyball, football, track, and cheer making up the participants. For these athletes “the Hockomock League has agreed to change spectator restrictions to include 2 adult family members of senior visiting athletes. It is a small but forward step to expand spectator opportunities,” says Athletic Director Bill Matthews.
So there will be more fans at games and meets, but what about the competition itself? Jacob Nipoti, a junior on the track team spoke about his experience with virtual meets.
“The virtual meets are pretty cool. They are more self-paced, and because there is no other team, the order and timing of events are up to us…. It is a fair bit harder to self-motivate without the stiffer competition, but we have made the best of it. We just had our last virtual meet today, and going forward we expect to have in-person meets.”
Track coach Kyle Sousa expanded on the future of their competitions: “Our competitions have been virtual thusfar, but we are switching to in-person track meets starting next week…pos[ing] a unique challenge for track and field because without another team here in person, we have to run and jump and throw against ourselves more than ever. That and facemasks are a tough adjustment when you’re running (and breathing) as hard as you can.”
He went on to speak on the profound amount of kindness, strength, and determination that the athletes have, specifically seniors.
“If there is one thing I’m most proud of is the incredible leadership and support that has been provided by our senior class. This is a senior class that had so much taken away by COVID-19, including this switch to the wedge season, but all I see every day is them giving back to their team. Working with underclassmen, teaching them about the sport, helping them improve.”