The Return of Fall Sports
Alex Brown '21 Sports Editor
Sports have always been a major part of the Howard High community. With all of the uncertainty that came with this past year, many people were not sure if we would even be able to get back into the school building, let alone have sporting events. The long wait has in some ways come to an end: as an athlete myself, I couldn't wait to get back on the field and court. With news that our fall sports season would be coming back, of course there were questions that needed to be answered. The Howard County school system confirmed that February 13 would be the official beginning of the fall sports season. We were able to meet with a few members of the Howard sports community and get their initial reactions and thoughts about the exciting news.
Head football coach Ross Hannon describes the process leading up to the start of the fall season: “The process for Howard football will remain the same. Keep the main thing the MAIN thing. We have always used technology, including hudl, (an app that helps teams communicate online) for play installs and corrections to help develop the players. We have had to rely on it more with virtual team meetings, however the commitment and dedication from the players made it a smooth transition. It's been very challenging not being able to connect with our players in person for so long. We work hard as a program to be in top physical condition when we start our seasons; players who commit to off season training are ready to perform at a high level when we step on the field; the staff works tirelessly to provide the players with the best possible high school experience. We want the kids to care for one another by choice. Our football team is set to have their first scrimmage against River Hill on Thursday March 4th if things all go as planned.” Some of Howard’s student athletes gave their input concerning the upcoming seasons. Senior Gigi Fredrickson, who plays middle on the girls’ varsity volleyball team, told us about how anxious the girls volleyball team was to get back. “We were anxious in the playing aspect and how it would be with COVID, but we were all super excited to get back on the court together for our last season.” When asked about some of her goals, Gigi stated, “My goals are to win counties with my friends and to get better, I’m mainly looking to just have fun for my last year and hopefully have a senior night.” Another student athlete we met with was Ryan Kuehl, a senior who plays center back for the boys’ varsity soccer team. He discusses his experience with getting back into playing: “It's been really challenging not being able to connect with our teammates and have captains’ practices in the off season due to COVID. The weather has also been a huge difference playing in the spring instead of fall; we’re used to it being really hot when the season starts and now it's freezing. our goal as a team is to win the county championship; we feel like we have a really strong team overall.” Lastly, we met with the forward for the girls’ varsity field hockey team, junior Raya Planter. Raya spoke about the challenges that COVID had brought to the team and how they stayed connected. “It’s definitely been a challenge not being able to play a sport that you love. I’ve missed being on the field with my teammates and coach, but I understand the importance of following safety guidelines that come with COVID. Our team has still stayed in contact by using our field hockey group chat and our weekly google meets.” A common theme amongst all the student athletes and coaches was the desire to get back on the field or court. They all voiced how much they missed being around each other. Other sports also beginning their season are cross country, golf and cheerleading. Currently, Howard County is permitting 250 spectators at all outdoor sporting events. That number includes all players from both teams as well as officials, trainers, film crews, chain crews, staticians and other essential individuals. This number becomes even smaller for indoor events, as they are limited to 100 spectators in total. Regardless of the crowd size, this is a very exciting time for everyone involved. Recreation leagues and club teams have held throughout the pandemic, but Howard High sports takes center field in our community. |
COLUMBIA MARYLAND, MARCH 4, 2021
Baltimore Sun Article heading regarding Howard County sports ALEX BROWN/LION’S TALE |