Photo by Tiffany Xiao/The Choate News
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, Wednesdays and Saturdays for Choate’s athletes brought carb loading, game-day playlists, and bus rides to competitions. Although teams no longer compete on Wednesdays, most varsity teams are still able to compete on Saturdays. However, Boys’ Volleyball, Girls’ Water Polo, and both Boys’ and Girls’ Crew do not have any interscholastic competitions this spring.
“There isn’t really anything we can do about it,” said co-Captain of Boys’ Varsity Volleyball Patrick Finnerty ’21. “So we’re disappointed, sure, but we’re trying to make the most of it. We also have a couple of seniors who are playing for the first time this year so we’re all trying to have as much fun as possible while making sure to challenge and improve the younger players.”
In the place of league games, Boys’ Volleyball has been scrimmaging every Wednesday and may even start scrimmaging twice a week. Even on intra-squad teams, the players have developed a spirit of healthy competition. Finnerty said, “We all get really into the games, and it was fun to have some fans in the stands last week. So, there’s plenty of bonding, even if that high-pressure aspect isn’t there as much as it would be in a normal season.”
Girls’ Water Polo is also not participating in interscholastic games. However, like the volleyball team, they are making the most of this unusual year. The girls hold frequent scrimmages and have played a few five-on-five games. Co-Captain Macie Simmons ’22 said, “It’s not quite a normal experience, but it’s definitely better than nothing and has given us valuable time to practice as a team.”
Without games or long team bus rides, the team has bonded in other ways. Co-Captain Martha Chessen ’22 said, “It’s a great vibe just getting to walk onto the pool deck with the girls blasting music and having such high energy, ready to compete against each other.” As a young team with many new underclassmen, Chessen hopes that the energy, unity, and skill the squad has developed this season will carry over to a strong season next spring.
Although both Boys’ and Girls’ Crew cannot row against other schools this season, the coaches have gotten creative to make practices productive and fun. During practice, athletes are split up into different ergs and compete in relay races with each other.
Ella Sklar ’22 said, “These relays are actually really fun and competitive. It is reasonable to assume that my teammates may be unmotivated. However, this is not the case. I am also really impressed with the effort the younger kids have put into learning the sport.”
Along with these relay races, the crew teams have competed in a few “triathlons” that incorporate running upstairs and erging. “Our practices are very beneficial to our conditioning and ensure that we will all be fit for next season” said Oliver Scott ’22.
