High school winter sports getting back on track

Area high school athletes are hitting the court and mats to shoot hoops and wrestle, as winter sports get off to a late start because of Covid-19.
According to the governor’s orders, winter sports were delayed until Jan. 4, with teams starting practicing that day and first games being held in coming weeks. Area high schools are getting going now with boys’ and girls’ basketball, wrestling, dance, gymnastics and boys’ and girls’ hockey, which is a co-op of regional schools.
“We’re going to be very young this year,” said Hayfield High School varsity girls’ basketball head coach Kasey Krekling, who saw seven seniors graduate last year.
“They were ecstatic last night,” he said of the girls’ first practice in the gym on Jan. 4. “It was a lot of fun. There was a lot of energy in the hallway as we were waiting for the boys to get done. It feels more like a privilege to play right now so they’re taking it one day at a time and we hope we can continue to get a full season out of it. You never know when it might be your last day as this pandemic has shown.”
Broc Threinen, activities director at Kasson-Mantorville High School, said the season has been reduced by 30 percent of games. Whereas winter teams normally would have started as early as in late October, now the teams are just hitting the courts.
“There is a good little buzz in the air here,” Threinen said. “I think everyone is just chomping at the bit to get going. They’re ready to burn off some energy.”
Jon Buchanan, activities director for Byron High School, said the mood is upbeat amongst winter sports athletes and coaches.
“I would say there is a great deal of excitement, gratitude and appreciation being displayed,” he said. “It’s wonderful to see student athletes and their coaches being able to interact in person and to participate and coach in the activity they enjoy.”
Dustin Wright, girls’ basketball coach for Triton Public Schools, said “we are very excited to be back in the gym and working together as a program to get a little better each day. The girls have shown up with positive attitudes and have really worked hard and practiced with intensity these first few days. If we continue that as the season goes, we will really improve as the season progresses.”
It’s currently unknown how many spectators will be allowed for competitions. Area activities directors are still getting cues from the Minnesota State High School League about some of the rules surrounding play this winter.
“Sounds as though we’ll start without fans, said Chris Pack, activities director at Hayfield High School. “We’re hoping that eventually we’ll be able to have like we had for volleyball, two spectators per participant were allowed. We’re hoping that will happen for basketball too.”
Another new rule is that athletes must wear a mask for sports when it’s not a visual or choking hazard. The mask may be removed when it might become a hazard.
“Some of the new rules and protocols we have to follow are things such as athletes and coaches wearing masks, using lots of hand sanitizer, socially distancing as much as possible, sanitizing all basketballs and equipment after use, and having our girls in smaller groups,” said Triton’s girls’ basketball coach Wright.
“That’s one big change,” Pack agreed. “I know the kids are excited to play. It will just take some getting used to for the kids. While they may not prefer to wear a mask they’ll gladly do it to be able to play.”
“The kids are really excited. I know they’re ready to go,” he said. “They’ve been patiently or not so patiently waiting. It feels good to get back, I know that.”
Typically by now the school would have gotten in eight basketball games. This year the teams are allowed 18 games versus 26.
Ryan Haraldson, varsity girls’ basketball coach for Kasson-Mantorville High School, said coaches and players are very excited to be back on the court together. KM will face off on Jan. 15 for their first game against Zumbrota-Mazeppa.
Haraldson said the coaches are keeping everything as safe as possible for players.
“We are wearing masks for practice, lifting and games,” he said. “We are sanitizing basketballs and our hands. We are social distancing as much as we can in practice. We have limited use of the locker room. We social distance on the bus rides and travel in smaller groups. We are working out in pods of less than 25. Our season is shortened from 26 games to 18 games in the regular season.”
Mya Seuss, a 17-year-old center for the KM girls basketball team, said she’s “really excited to be back on the court with my teammates. Even with all of the new rules and restrictions, I’m just grateful to get a chance to play.”
Shane Van Beek, Triton High School activities director, said they are also following all of the state guidelines for sports competition with regard to masking, distancing and placing student-athletes into pods.
“Our coaches and athletes are grateful for the opportunity to participate in the activities they love,” Van Beek said. “We are taking each practice and game as an opportunity to learn the life skills that educated-based activities provide.”