Preseason prepares Davis High athletic teams for potential 2021 season
PHOTO: Junior Will Siemens and senior Sam Leveau lead the charge at Davis High’s socially distanced track and field practice.
By Sean Gallagher,
BlueDevilHUB.com Staff–
Spread out across the Davis High baseball field, members of the varsity baseball team play catch with their designated throwing partner. At Arroyo Pool, the women’s water polo team treads water, spaced out at either end of the lanes. Across Halden Field, varsity football runs socially distanced drills.
Since the shutdown of schools, sports teams at DHS have been left without a season or practice. At the start of the school year, the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) outlined new guidelines and a new schedule for practices.
Jeff Lorenson is the athletic director at DHS. “Many programs are currently participating in voluntary small pod conditioning sessions that are modified to meet the guidelines of our state and local health departments. Some programs have decided not to participate in small pod conditioning practices until the season approaches,” said Lorenson in an email to parents and student athletes.
CIF’s new guidelines for teams to practice consist of several phases based on the case level in the county. Phase one being small pods of 5-10 athletes practicing with a six-foot distance and masks.
According to CIF, phase two allows “up to 50 individuals [to] gather for outdoor workouts.” However the six-feet distance between athletes must be maintained and workouts should still be conducted in small pods. In addition teams must follow the local and state guidelines.
“We have been practicing for about a month and a half. We have been doing skill work and scrimmaging, we switch which one we do every other day,” said Gizaw Baker, a freshman and varsity baseball player.
In addition to focusing on skill work, varsity baseball has been able to start doing more typical preseason drills.
“We are now able to start throwing but we have a specific throwing partner everyday to limit the spread if someone gets COVID. I think distance training is fine for a sport like baseball that’s very spread but I can understand how it’s hard for other sports,” said Carter Stoltz, a sophomore and varsity baseball player.
Senior Zach Brooks is a member of the varsity football team — a more contact heavy sport.
“Obviously we’d rather be playing and doing everything as normal but the situation doesn’t allow for that. We’re making the best out of it though, we can do a lot of form stuff, a lot of technique and all of that stuff,” Brooks said.
Another contact sport that has been affected by the restrictions is water polo. “Since there is no contact we are able to work more on fundamentals and structure in the water and this is also better for newer athletes coming out,” said Malaya Wright, a sophomore and varsity women’s water polo player.
Currently, DHS plans to start the official sports season at the start of 2021. “The preseason for most of the winter and spring sport programs will start after the holiday break as normal. If state and local guidelines change or do not allow for play the CIF will make any adjustments needed,” Lorensen said. “If adjustments are needed this likely will happen after the Thanksgiving break.”
In addition to monitoring local and state guidelines, the Davis Joint Unified School District is exploring the option of live streaming all events through the National Federation of State High School Associations Network.
“We currently have the ability to live stream all events that take place in the stadium, north gym and south gym. We are actively investigating the ability to stream events in other facilities,” Lorenson said.
As for now, student athletes remain hopeful that they get a season this year.
“I really hope that our team gets to have a season this year because starting now for me and my upperclassmen this is a great opportunity I get to be scouted by colleges. Also, all the games and tournaments are all great opportunities to make great memories and get to know teammates better which I think is super important,” Wright said.
