Grover Jones Field. Photo credit: Collegiate School

By Bryson Raquet

It’s fall. The leaves are changing colors, the air is crisp, and kids are back in school, whether it’s online or in person. Typically, around this time every year, high school football is well underway, and footballs are soaring through the air on Grover Jones Field. Yet this year, there is no football. In the words of Collegiate parent Dave Clemans, “Football weather without high school football games might be the cruelest 2020 move ever.”

A major decision affecting fall sports was made on July 24, when the League of Independent Schools (LIS) and the Virginia Preparatory League announced that they would not be holding any fall sports championships, and that none of them would be rescheduled to the spring. A few days later, on July 27, all high school football games in Virginia were postponed to 2021 or canceled. These decisions were made due to the global pandemic we are currently facing. Some states are having their 2020 high school football seasons, and some are not. Out of all 50 states, 36 are playing their seasons this fall.

There is a vast difference between high schools canceling their football seasons and colleges canceling theirs because, in college football, teams from different states play each other. Certain conferences, like the Pac 12 and Mid-American, decided it was best to postpone their seasons, while other conferences like the SEC, ACC, and Big 10 decided to play their games. The NCAA has placed many regulations on the colleges playing their seasons in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Every member of the team must test negative three days prior to game day. During the games, all coaches and athletes who are not competing must wear a mask the entire time. The active players are only required to wear one during a timeout or while they are talking to a coach. 

Every year the University of Virginia faces off against Virginia Tech in the Commonwealth Cup. This year, the two teams were supposed to play on Saturday, Sept. 19 at Virginia Tech, but the date had to be pushed back to Dec.12 because of a recent COVID-19 outbreak at Virginia Tech. Many Collegiate students would be driving to Blacksburg to watch the two teams play, but only 1,000 total fans are allowed to attend the game this year because of Virginia’s guidelines.

Although Collegiate has canceled most of its fall competitive sports seasons, student-athletes are still finding a way to play the sports that they love through travel teams. Many Collegiate students play for a team outside of school and continued to play over the summer and this fall, whether it was AAU basketball, travel baseball, or travel lacrosse. In a time like this, what does it mean to be a student-athlete at Collegiate?

In recent interviews, student-athletes at Collegiate were asked, “Why are practices continuing even though no games are scheduled?” and “How did you feel when you first heard that your season was canceled?”

Varsity football captain John Ballowe (‘21) said, “While we aren’t playing games, we all love to go out and practice after school because it gives our team the opportunity to go out and spend time with one another.” When Ballowe got the news about his final season being taken away, he said that he was “angry and disappointed” and that it “felt like a knife in the chest.” Football co-captain Noah Kiczales (‘21) said, “We are practicing, because if we have the chance to play a season or any sort of organized football, we want to be ready.” Kiczales said that when he received the news about their season being canceled, he was “sad and devastated. I know all the seniors felt the same way.” Offensive lineman Connor Little (‘21), who suffered a torn labrum last year and had to have surgery in the offseason, said “Having to work myself back up to 110% just to hear we wouldn’t have a season really hurt.” 

I also spoke with varsity basketball captain Mac Macdonald (‘21) about their upcoming season. “We are still planning to have a season from December until February, but we have no clue if it will really happen.” Most winter and spring sports are still unsure about their seasons. 

Varsity field hockey captain and Ohio State commit Hallie Brost (‘21) said, “Our coaches are doing a great job creating drills that further our skills while maintaining social distancing.” When asked about her reaction to the field hockey season being canceled, Brost stated, “When I first heard the season was going to be primarily practice, it didn’t hit me initially. It wasn’t until the second week of the preseason when I came to the realization that the season I’ve been looking forward to for five years was basically ruined.”

COVID-19 has also heavily affected recruiting for student-athletes who want to play at the next level. Student-athletes are unable to tour campuses and physically meet with coaches, for the most part. Some student-athletes shared insight as to how the recruiting process has been different this year. “My recruitment has changed with how I can see campuses and connect with coaches. Historically, I would be competing at camps in front of coaches and visiting campuses, but this year all I had was my film and building relationships over the phone” said Ballowe. When asked the same question, Macdonald stated, “Recruitment slowed because of COVID, but I have still gotten some offers. If we play, I will probably commit at the end of the season, but if we don’t I might commit earlier.” 

Only time can tell what is going to happen with the remainder of the fall sports seasons, but until social distancing regulations are lifted, it’s going to be hard for any team to have a season that everyone is used to. What will happen in the winter and spring seasons is still unknown, but I know every athlete on those teams is eager to compete for a state championship.