 |
| Tryouts begin later this month for Windham High School's fall sports teams. A full fall season of prep sports will be underway by September and fans will be allowed to attend games this year. PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA |
The 2021 Windham High School fall sports season is a go. At this point in time, all sports will be able to play – including football – with this season looking very similar to the spring season, meaning minimal COVID-19 restrictions.
Fans will be allowed at all games and no masks are required if you are outside. The prep sports preseason will begin on Monday, Aug. 16 with tryouts and scrimmages, and the official fall season will start in late August and early September.
As far as the Maine Principal’s Association is concerned, there may be some modifications down the line, but right now the season is looking really good, officials say.
The Windham School Board recently met to discuss what the start of school will look like. Will masks be required or not? Depending on what was decided, athletes playing the only indoor fall sport, volleyball, may or may not be masked.
Windham Middle School and Raymond’s Jordan-Small Middle School will have regular seasons, with the Windham Middle School season beginning in mid-to-late September. Jordan-Small Middle School’s season will begin in early September.
Windham High school Athletic Director Rich Drummond is approaching this season as if it were pre-pandemic times. He said that the Athletic Department is moving forward and is very excited for the start of the fall prep season.
“I’m very much prepping like it’s the fall of 2019,” said Drummond.
Windham varsity boys’ soccer coach Ben Schulz feels pretty good about the group he has returning this season. He said it’s a nice mix of senior leadership and talented young guys. This combination gives the team optimism that returning to the Southern Maine Activities Association playoffs is a realistic goal.
“As we have learned over the past year and a half, things can change pretty quickly,” said Schulz. “If we stay healthy and work hard, I suspect we definitely have the ability to field a team that our community will be proud of.”
Drummond went on to say that it is proven at this point, kids can participate safely in athletics. It may look a little different at times, but Drummond said they made it work last fall and for the winter and spring seasons. He added he thought athletics can happen not only in Windham, but statewide.
“I think we are going to be strong this year, said Windham varsity field hockey coach Cory DiDonato. The girls are coming in with determination and have done the work this summer to be in a good place when preseason starts. They have been together and know how each other works which is an asset.”
DiDonato said that seniors Sarah Hare, Ellie Wilson and Ellie Miller are going to be key returners. They know what it takes to get it done and how to do so. The rest of the returning teammates are also playing crucial roles for the team too. DiDonato has high hopes and is excited for the season.
This season will add a new sport to the schedule, Esports, or electronic sports. Windham coach Seth Fournier described it as video gaming at another level through organized, strict competitive gameplay. This activity has really grown throughout the state. This will be a varsity sport representing Windham High School.
Fournier said the Esports will work on skills such as critical thinking, communication, teamwork, and creative problem solving. There will also be a physical component as well. It will not be 100 percent in front of a screen.
Fournier wants to shake the stereotype that you can’t do other things and play video games.
“You can play video games and still be a functioning adult. You can still do what you want and play video games,” said Fournier.
E-sports is going to open up an activity to another population of students who may not normally be involved in the athletic program. Their season will begin in late September.
“(This is) one of the more anticipated exciting falls I’ve been looking forward to in a long time,” said Drummond. “I think we’re going to have great teams and we’ve got great athletes. I think we’re going to have a great fall and it’s a good way to kick off the school year.” <
No comments:
Post a Comment