As the school year draws to a close, as it would without the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, many high school students reflect on the school year. This reflection is from an academic lense, a social lense, and often, for those involved in athletic programs, a reflection on the impact that their team’s – or teams’ – season had on their year. Sadly, spring season sports teams at Fieldston are missing out on a year of competition and practice. However, many coaches and dedicated team members are trying to salvage what can be saved from the canceled seasons that they had hoped for.
On Thursday, April 2nd, Fieldston’s Athletic Director, Gus Ornstein delivered the Fieldston community the sad news that the Ivy Preparatory School League had decided that they were canceling all 2020 athletic seasons. “With heavy hearts, we write to let you know that we met with our fellow Ivy Preparatory School League Heads of School and Athletics Directors and reached the difficult decision to cancel interschool athletics competitions for spring 2020. Our first priority is the health and safety of our communities.” This news was especially difficult for our seniors, the class of 2020, who were not prepared to abandon the different sports and the teams that they love.
As such, many team’s seniors have organized regular team meetings to maintain the social connection that teammates share. With the help of coaches and the Athletic Department at Fieldston, many teams – spring season or not – have organized Google Meetings and Zoom calls for workouts, discussions, or just general gatherings. For varsity baseball teams across the league, one of these meetings included a Q&A session with Ivy Prep League alum, and center fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals, Harrison Bader. Of course, this is a very cool experience, but according to baseball coach, Tony Marro, “It is very important that we focus on what we can get out of our time with each other.” Fieldston’s varsity baseball team has adopted the reality of quarantine and has decided to have weekly team workouts, baseball oriented and otherwise. Also, twice-weekly meetings have been occurring to foster some level of the bonding experience that occurs with any sports team.
For many, this has offered some comfort, and offered a bit of normalcy by being with a group of people who one would spend time with, outside of this pandemic. This also gives an opportunity for teams to talk about, and practice their sport remotely, such that they are even more fine-tuned for the 2021 season. Most importantly, these meetings help maintain the team dynamic, while putting time towards the different sports that so many Fieldston students love.
