From Doubtful to Active, How Long Island High School Sports Returned
High school students and coaches across New York state received the unfortunate news of fall sports being postponed on Sept. 9, 2020. They were pushed to March 2021, but because of the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, many fall student-athletes were still left wondering if the 2019 season of their respective sport was the last time they would represent their high school.
“During the time of the holiday season we for sure had our doubts whether we were going to be eligible to have a season or not, but we never lost hope,” said Thomas Sanicola, a senior defensive end for Sachem North High School’s football team.
Many scientists and medical professionals were predicting the worst COVID-19 surge in the winter months. However, New York state was still able to release satisfactory guidelines for playing high school sports, making the desires of student-athletes and coaches to return to action a reality.
“During the year, I honestly didn’t have any hope for any sports happening from the pandemic, but somehow, the school made it happen, which I’m really grateful for,” said Akshay Mangroo, a senior fencer at Hewlett High School. “Once I heard the news of fencing starting up again, I was so happy.”
Everybody was thrilled when student-athletes, especially seniors, were able to play again, but the return to high school sports didn’t come without jam-packed schedules for student-athletes.
There were still fall, winter and spring sports to be played, but seasons were condensed after the postponement of fall sports. This often took a toll on Mangroo, who had 11 fencing meets in a month and a half.
“I had to pay the price of staying up late to complete any work I had left to do,” Mangroo said.”
Mangroo’s busy life with athletics crossed over into his personal life during this fencing season. He missed one of his brothers’ birthdays due to an important meet.
Initially, spring sports were the most likely to have a season. Fall sports had a high degree of uncertainty as to whether there would be a season or not due to the initial pushback. Winter immediately follows fall, casting some doubt as to whether winter sports would occur, but spring sports were the farthest away.
The spring was also the projected time to having a potential coronavirus vaccine. In addition, spring athletics, such as lacrosse, baseball and softball, take place outdoors.
However, the anxiousness to return to sports was probably the highest in spring student-athletes and coaches. They were shut down just as the 2020 season was getting started before eventually being cancelled.
“It’s been two years since we’ve been able to compete in a high school baseball game, so they boys are very excited and chomping at the bit,” said John Givargidze, Plainview Old-Bethpage Head Varsity Baseball Coach.” I’m really happy for the boys.
Practices for Plainview Old-Bethpage John F. Kennedy’s varsity baseball team start in early to mid-March every year. This year, the season was getting started just as COVID-19 was declared a pandemic. After the eventual delay of spring sports, some of New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s 11 sections started to cancel them before all sections eventually pulled the plug.
Even today, high school sports across the Empire State are experiencing cancellations and hard news to stomach, such as spring sports not having a state championship. However, the general consensus among players, coaches and even referees is just being excited to be able to have sports after all.
“It feels great to get back out there, and it’s great for the seniors to get their final season in,” said Ryan Lepper, an official for Long Island Association of Football Officials and Nassau County Lacrosse Officials Association.
There are still many guidelines to follow in order to play sports safely in high schools across the state. For officials like Lepper, some schools require temperature checks and testing.
For players and coaches, there are even more precise rules to help limit and stop the spread of coronavirus, such as travel sizes. Givargidze’s team is limited to a travel roster of 18 players and 20 personnel on the bus, meaning there is room for him, his players and an assistant coach.
Other protocols, such as tracing and positive cases, are clear. Sanicola said only a person who is contact traced has to quarantine instead of a whole team. According to Mangroo, as long as no one had a positive case on the team, they were able to play. Otherwise, the team’s activities were shut down for two weeks.
Spectators must sit in the outfield since they are not allowed in the stands. Givargidze said some players will have to stand in the dugout and others will use the empty stands to properly socially distance themselves, as his players are not allowed to all gather in the dugout.
Although there are many rigid and set-in-stone rules to follow, some still remain unclear to players and coaches. For instance, although players or coaches who test positive or are considered high risk due to contact tracing must quarantine, Givargidze is not sure if that rule changes in any way if there are vaccinated parties involved.
Givargidze is also curious as to whether social distancing guidelines will be changed for athletics after the Centers for Disease Control released new social distancing protocols in classrooms. In addition, he’s waiting for the coaches meeting to find out whether games cancelled due to a positive case are forfeited or postponed.
“We will follow whatever protocols are put into place,” he said. “We just want to play baseball.”
Football, which is one of the highest contact sports, is taking place across the state, but they also follow strict guidelines. Sanicola and the rest of the Arrows wear face coverings under their helmets and try to space themselves out more than six feet when not doing drills.
Sanicola has been quarantining after recently being contact traced due to sitting in front of someone who tested positive for the virus. Student-athletes are taking steps to decrease the chance of high-risk exposure, and Sanicola might begin to follow them.
“What some kids are doing is going full remote and doing online school to limit the contact tracing,” he said. “It’s a very smart idea because you don’t have to worry about being contact traced at school for sitting next to someone.”
With vaccinations increasing in the U.S. and COVID cases going down, it’s possible these guidelines and cancellations won’t be in affect much longer. However, until then, coaches and players must follow all rules to the tee in order to play and have a successful season. In the meantime, it’ll be fun to once again hear someone yell “play ball” or see a coin flip or faceoff.