The arrival of the coronavirus pandemic drastically changed all aspects of normal life. Masks have been worn, hands have been excessively sanitized, and people have been standing six feet apart. As high schoolers, our four years here at AFHS should be exciting and filled with thrilling experiences. But on the bright side, things have started to look up; mostly because sports like volleyball at AFHS have made a comeback! As COVID continues to be a part of student life, people will try to be safe and take extra precautions to maintain these long awaited events. Although some aspects of our daily lives have normalized, ignoring the virus proves impossible as it continues to make its way into our schools.
All sports at AFHS have experienced some setbacks and changes; especially the women’s volleyball team. According to Reagan Petty, teacher and coach here at AFHS, “The biggest difference from last season is the mask requirement.” It had been a challenge for the team to cope with the mask mandates, especially when some matches go up to five sets. Petty goes on to explain how masks impact “endurance” and “conditioning,” both of which remain necessary for athletes to play their best. Hopefully, as more students become vaccinated, sports teams will have the chance to play without masks affecting their performance.
Most sports teams this past year had been forced to play without the shouts and cheers from their fans. The gym has been “dead silent,” which puts a damper on the atmosphere. Fortunately, some of the mandates regarding fans and spectators have been lifted. Instead of only 25 fans allowed for each team, no limitation now exists for spectators, although the requirement to be masked and standing six feet apart at all times. Having people to cheer energizes the team, which Petty says supports a better environment to play in.
Petty talks about how some restrictions have been lifted, all while keeping players, coaches, and staff safe. “It’s nice to have a little bit of a season that feels normal.” Although the team recently lost a five-set game against Green Hope High, Petty says “to me, knowing that we can bring that fight and that effort is encouraging for the rest of our season.” The women’s volleyball team continues to make their way through the conference, playing with all that they’ve got, even while wearing masks. Stay tuned for the morning announcements, where Mr. Wight will have information regarding games and scores.
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