Emily Staid ‘22
With the return to normalcy post-COVID-19 on the horizon, Episcopal’s Athletic Department is looking for the best ways to approach the upcoming fall sports season. The return to a time prior to COVID-19, with large student body gatherings, no mask mandates, and more out of conference games, is not certain.
Episcopal, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, has followed the guidance of the state and the CDC on how to best approach this academic and athletic school year. Using this guidance, they have mandated masks during sports, limited spectators, and restricted games to only in-conference matches. Though proper measures were put in place to ensure the safety of the students and their families, the Episcopal Academy community is still eager to return to normalcy as none of these conditions are ideal for athletic settings.
Both students and the administration echo this message by hoping to have the Thunderdome back and to have a return to full athletic competition. Todd Fairlie, Head of the Athletic Department, believes that, “We are planning to operate as normal in the fall, with a full schedule.” Michael Letts, Head of the Upper School, echoes Farilie’s sentiment saying, “Episcopal and the rest of the Inter-Ac schools are all certainly in consultation about the upcoming sports season as we are all on the same page with the hope to return to complete normalcy.”
Many students are excited by this news. Berkeley Sando ‘22, Captain of the Girls Water Polo Team for the 2021 season, states, “I am super hopeful that we will have a somewhat normal season, maybe not to the extent that it was before, but definitely more games than last fall. We are already scheduled to play at our regular tournaments like Beast of the East.”
All of these optimistic plans, however, come with a caveat, as no one truly knows what the state department and the CDC will advise for the upcoming fall. As mass vaccinations are becoming available for all high school students, this uncertainty of plans continues to grow. Mr. Letts hopes “with all of these vaccinations, we will be able to return to normal events and not have to wear masks.” This comes with many questions: Will the Thunderdome be able to return to sporting events? Will there be an EA/ Haverford/AIS day with a full spirit week, including the Pep Rally, leading up to it? Will sports be mandatory once again?
All of these questions are definitely still up in the air, but the administration notes the optimistic outlook on the termination of COVID-19 restrictions. Letts continues, “There have been numerous talks about the hope to resume with normal events like EA/ Haverford/AIS weekend.” Many students share this sentiment, like Olivia Corrato ’22, who mentions, “Especially because we are doing powerpuff and prom, I think we should be able to have EA/AIS/Haverford day and large student sections at all of our other sporting events.”
The ability to have crowds and student gatherings aids the argument of returning to the Upper School sports requirement, yet this is a debated issue as some people might not be comfortable yet with returning to this level of normalcy. Elizabeth Boruff ‘23 believes, “People with family members with preexisting conditions or who have preexisting conditions themselves and are weary of COVID-19 should be able to decide whether or not they want to participate in sports.” Others like Corrato think, “Sports are such a big part of the EA community and I think it is important that they return as they teach students how to better manage their time, and prepare them for college.”