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We all knew that this volleyball season would be a little different due to COVID-19.
On Monday, March 15 we began to appreciate why we are sticklers about mask wearing, ball sanitation and separate practices for varsity and junior varsity. The Greenport/Southold team was scheduled to play us, but the team has been hit with a positive COVID test, and they are out of action for two weeks.
Just two days previously the teams had traveled to Sag Harbor to play the Pierson Whalers.
JUNIOR VARSITY
JV squads often face a much steeper learning curve than varsity squads. Position specialization and the expectation that all rallies will use three hits takes some time to get used to. The athletes have been working diligently on learning the finer points of the game and entered the Pierson match with much improved confidence.
On March 1, the fall sports season started.
Yes, fall sports in March. It was hard to tell who was happiest during the volleyball team’s first practice. Coaches Cindy Belt and Laura Mayo had been waiting a long time for this moment, as well as the 25 athletes who came out for the team.
Similar to basketball and cheerleading, athletes and coaches face mandatory weekly COVID tests, and daily temperature checks and attestation sheets which certify that everyone in the gym has been adhering to safe protocols.
On Monday, March 8, the first volleyball competition in over 15 months was held in the Shelter Island gym. The maintenance staff and athletic department had to adjust to new seating arrangements for social distancing. Each athlete has two tickets to her game, so there were family and friends in the stands once again. The cheers and handmade signs were awesome to see.
The Shelter Island High School girls varsity basketball team. Back row, from left:
Mackenzie Speece, Mary Gennari, Valeria Reyes, Lydia Shepherd, Dayla Reyes, Annabella Springer, Francis Regan and Coach Brian Springer. Front row, from left: Kaitlyn Gulluscio, Madison Springer, Sophie Clark and Angelina Rice. (Courtesy photo)
Well, that was fast.
The basketball season, cut short by COVID-19 restrictions, wrapped up at the end of February, just one month after it started. However, judging from the smiles and laughter from the Shelter Island girls varsity basketball team, it mattered little that the season was short and the learning curve steep.
The final game was against the Greenport/Southold Porters on Feb. 24. The game started with the appropriate pomp and circumstances. Coach Brian Springer thanked his only senior, Lydia Shepherd for her work and leadership on the team.
Track teams wrap up season Kaitlyn Gulluscio gives a thumbs up for herself and her teammates. From left, Lily Page, Alex Burns, Madison Springer, Kaitlyn, Ariana Carter, Andrea Napoles, Olivia Overstreet and Isabella Fonseca. (Credit: Todd Gulluscio)
Valentine’s Day was scheduled as the last meet of the year for the winter track teams. Unfortunately, the weather had other plans. More snow and ice had coated the tracks, so the season-ending Hampton Bays meet had to be canceled.
Coach Kevin Barry was philosophical about the abrupt end to the season. “We got four of five meets run,” he said. “Some other schools only ended up with 2 meets.”