2021 winter sports season salvaged
BE boys vs. Windham. BETV screenshot.
By Amelia McAvoy, Lillian Gaudiano and Macey Cabral
Despite the challenges of COVID-19, the winter sports season has begun. Shortly after the Maine Principal’s Association changed its guidelines and allowed schools in yellow zones to hold winter sports on Jan. 23, boys and girls basketball, ice hockey, swimming and indoor track teams at BEHS began practicing.
Mr. Eric Curtis, BEHS athletic director, expressed confidence that winter sports could safely take place.
“We have procedures in place just like we do in school to limit exposure to our athletes. We pre-screen athletes everyday, we clean equipment after use. Our coaches continue to educate the kids on the importance of hand washing and face coverings.”
According to Mike Burleson, coach of the boys indoor track team, his athletes are excited to be able to be back working out and are focused on gaining fitness and hopeful for competition soon.
“Due to the decent winter weather and limited indoor space, they have been spending a large amount of time running on the track, parking lots and roads. Our coaches are organizing a virtual track meet that will allow teams from around the league to compete in any track and field event on their own and compare results in a virtual meet.”
The girls basketball team, which has been practicing at the Buxton Center Elementary School for social distance reasons, was able to open its season in the high school gym on Feb. 11. They will play Gorham twice over February break and have 10 games overall. Of course, with COVID, no spectators are allowed in the gym, but all home games are streaming on the Bonny Eagle Youtube account.
“Overall, we're really excited and looking forward to playing against somebody else,” said girls varsity coach Mr. Scott Regan. “It has been challenging having to practice on the road every night, but we are getting used to it. We are really appreciative that we will at least get to play our games at home here at the high school.”
Although the winter sports athletes are extremely grateful to have a season at all, it is still challenging for them to play under such unique circumstances, especially for the seniors. Spring Parsons has been playing basketball since she was six years old and has been with the varsity team since her sophomore year. After spending all these years dedicated to the sport, she never imagined her last season to be such a difficult one.
While COVID has made everything much harder, she says, “I’ve been trying to stay positive and make the most of the year that we do have.”
Mr. Curtis explained that the major changes for athletes are having to wear masks while playing and not being able to use the locker rooms before, during, or after games. Spring is just glad that the uncertainty is over.
“Whether or not we could or couldn’t play was always unknown,” she said. “It was hard earlier this season being told we couldn’t play over and over again.”
Mr. Curtis echoes that sentiment. “I believe sports are very important for kids socially and emotionally. I know watching my own children I worry about their well being and how important being active is to them so I know many of our student athletes are in the same situation.”
The girls basketball team will only play 10 games, if that many. Coach Regan explained that some of the schools they will be playing don’t have enough players for two teams.
Despite the short season and no playoffs, Spring and her fellow seniors say they are looking forward to being able to have a Senior Night. Their families will watch the game on livestream, and then meet with the senior players in person for rose-giving and pictures.
Meanwhile, Mr. Curtis is hopeful that by the time spring sports are scheduled to begin, they will be able to proceed without the delays and uncertainties that the winter sports teams endured.
“I am hopeful with more vaccines being administered and being outdoors will allow for a more normal spring,” Mr. Curtis said.
Despite the challenges of COVID-19, the winter sports season has begun. Shortly after the Maine Principal’s Association changed its guidelines and allowed schools in yellow zones to hold winter sports on Jan. 23, boys and girls basketball, ice hockey, swimming and indoor track teams at BEHS began practicing.
Mr. Eric Curtis, BEHS athletic director, expressed confidence that winter sports could safely take place.
“We have procedures in place just like we do in school to limit exposure to our athletes. We pre-screen athletes everyday, we clean equipment after use. Our coaches continue to educate the kids on the importance of hand washing and face coverings.”
According to Mike Burleson, coach of the boys indoor track team, his athletes are excited to be able to be back working out and are focused on gaining fitness and hopeful for competition soon.
“Due to the decent winter weather and limited indoor space, they have been spending a large amount of time running on the track, parking lots and roads. Our coaches are organizing a virtual track meet that will allow teams from around the league to compete in any track and field event on their own and compare results in a virtual meet.”
The girls basketball team, which has been practicing at the Buxton Center Elementary School for social distance reasons, was able to open its season in the high school gym on Feb. 11. They will play Gorham twice over February break and have 10 games overall. Of course, with COVID, no spectators are allowed in the gym, but all home games are streaming on the Bonny Eagle Youtube account.
“Overall, we're really excited and looking forward to playing against somebody else,” said girls varsity coach Mr. Scott Regan. “It has been challenging having to practice on the road every night, but we are getting used to it. We are really appreciative that we will at least get to play our games at home here at the high school.”
Although the winter sports athletes are extremely grateful to have a season at all, it is still challenging for them to play under such unique circumstances, especially for the seniors. Spring Parsons has been playing basketball since she was six years old and has been with the varsity team since her sophomore year. After spending all these years dedicated to the sport, she never imagined her last season to be such a difficult one.
While COVID has made everything much harder, she says, “I’ve been trying to stay positive and make the most of the year that we do have.”
Mr. Curtis explained that the major changes for athletes are having to wear masks while playing and not being able to use the locker rooms before, during, or after games. Spring is just glad that the uncertainty is over.
“Whether or not we could or couldn’t play was always unknown,” she said. “It was hard earlier this season being told we couldn’t play over and over again.”
Mr. Curtis echoes that sentiment. “I believe sports are very important for kids socially and emotionally. I know watching my own children I worry about their well being and how important being active is to them so I know many of our student athletes are in the same situation.”
The girls basketball team will only play 10 games, if that many. Coach Regan explained that some of the schools they will be playing don’t have enough players for two teams.
Despite the short season and no playoffs, Spring and her fellow seniors say they are looking forward to being able to have a Senior Night. Their families will watch the game on livestream, and then meet with the senior players in person for rose-giving and pictures.
Meanwhile, Mr. Curtis is hopeful that by the time spring sports are scheduled to begin, they will be able to proceed without the delays and uncertainties that the winter sports teams endured.
“I am hopeful with more vaccines being administered and being outdoors will allow for a more normal spring,” Mr. Curtis said.