Sports teams face difficulties with absences due to COVID-19

PHOTO: The varsity women’s basketball team has struggled significantly with absences and canceled games this year due to COVID-19.

By Rachael Wong,

BlueDevilHUB.com Staff–

Following the recent surge of COVID-19 cases, sports teams have seen the varying impacts of absences to their teams.

According to ski team coach Mike McMullen, he usually has three to four athletes out at a time. 

“Most (athletes) have been back after the minimum of five days, but some have been out as long as 10 days,” McMullen said. 

Since the ski team has so many participants, absences have not impacted the team’s ability to compete or practice. Absences are mostly disappointing for the individuals who miss races due to COVID-19. 

Missing races “could ultimately impact their chances to qualify individually for the state championship races in March,” McMullen said.

In contrast with the ski team, the women’s basketball team only has 17 athletes. “(Absences) do affect practices because our numbers are so small,” women’s varsity basketball coach Heather Highshoe said.

With a small basketball team as is, just a few absences can impact the team in a big way.

Highshoe has begun to combine the JV and varsity practices so that the practices are more effective. “Before I combined (the two), I only had seven players on varsity,” Highshoe said.