As we enter the 4th academic quarter of this bizarre school year, the Spring sports season is in full swing, as multiple sports teams have begun their respective seasons: baseball, softball, tennis, track & field, ultimate frisbee, and boys volleyball. Especially notable about this year’s Spring sports season is that it’s essentially the first one since 2019. Aside from a couple practices last year, COVID-19 cut the season very short. This year, however, it’s looking like the Spring season will make a full recovery, with more opportunities for in-person practices than the Fall and Winter sports seasons. 

We had the opportunity to speak with Youssef E. ‘21—a member of the boys varsity volleyball team since 9th grade and team captain since 10th grade. For someone as devoted to his team as Youssef, losing his junior year season was particularly devastating. He explains: “Even though I eventually accepted the reality that there wasn’t going to be a 2020 Spring sports season, I was, and still am, deeply saddened [ … ] I missed out on a lot of possible memories that could have been made with the team.” Youssef adds: “The feeling of winning a game; the moment where you were struggling in practice either with a drill or some cardio work, but you were struggling together; the times in the locker room and the times after practices and games when you would just get food and hang out. I missed all of it.”

In addition to missing out on memories, it’s often easy to forget about the lost practice and opportunities that come with losing an entire season. Unfortunately, this was the case for Youssef, who had “aimed to get recruited and needed to get film for college over that [2020] season.” Although Youssef was understandably frustrated at losing his volleyball season, he looks ahead with a positive attitude: “It definitely stung a lot at first but there are other opportunities in my life, and I feel that I was able to get over it. I’ll just try to walk on to a sports team in college and see where my athletic career continues in the future.”

We also had the privilege of speaking with August S. ‘22, who has been a member of the baseball team since 9th grade. When asked about how in-person practices help with team bonding, Augie remarked, “[Compared to] the soccer team, this team has felt a lot more like a team due to the increase of times we get to see one another.” There seems to be more of a community with every team this season, as they have been able to see each other more in person instead of over Zoom. There’s also a burgeoning sense of normality, as the members of the baseball team “actually […] practice baseball instead of a lot of isolated fitness drills.” However, although athletes are able to see each other more, teams are still not able to play league matches against other schools, as the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS) has still not opened their leagues. According to Augie, there is potential for “a couple scrimmages” with other schools, but besides that, this season seems to be centered around preparing athletes for their future. There is hope and belief that Fall 2021 might be the return of league sports and conceivably bring us a whole year of seasons for the first time since 2018-19.