High school sports have been a staple in the modern culture of our school, state, and country, but as COVID-19 rages on, will it continue to be a highlight of every adolescence experience? My personal answer is yes, but, like me, I am sure you want to know what the students and our very own athletic director Abe Jahadhmy have to say about what the future holds for our teams, tournaments, and beloved coaches.
In order to get an inside perspective I interviewed San Marcos’s athletic director, Abe Jahadhmy. Mr. Jahadhmy has been a part of the San Marcos staff since 1987 and has been the Athletic director since 2004. He also played on the soccer and football teams when he was in high school.
“Well we’re hoping to start soon,” said athletic director Abe Jahadhmy. “We’re hoping to start with non-contact sports and all outdoor within the next few weeks, with the fall sports, and then if everything goes well we’ll do it with the winter sports.”
When asked if he thought any of the sports seasons would get cancelled he responded, “I hope none of them get canceled, you know, I just hope… but I think if one season is cancelled, they all go, all the sports during that season get cancelled.”
There is no doubt that high school sports affect a good amount of our students in remarkable ways.
“Sports have shaped my high school experience by allowing me to be part of something bigger than myself and giving high school a fun, competitive side, rather than an all academic experience,” said sophomore Riley Welch. “Also, I have made so many friends and memories through high school sports.”
Last year Riley was a part of the girls JV basketball and Volleyball team. Like all sports, the girls Volleyball team has not met up to practice in person but they are staying active by doing workout videos and yoga videos together over zoom.
“I was on cross country last year and I had a great time because I got to hang out with awesome people and do exhausting but rewarding workouts,” said sophomore Ian McCarter. “Right now I’m on my second season of cross country, and I’m curious to see how this year plays out. I’ve got to say it’s a bit different this year training without the team.”
Cross country is one of the few sports that is still up and running due to it being non contact and all outdoors. While cross country may be an inherently independent sport, the San Marcos team is as close if not closer than the traditional team sports.
“High school sports to me are a community of people that all love a certain thing.” Said McCarter.
As both Ian and Riley so eloquently stated, sports give students the opportunity to be a part of something bigger than themselves, an experience that teaches students life lessons.
Due to the fact that everything can change at a moment’s notice we must hope it changes for the better. But, in case you were not aware, we can do more than hope. In order to get back our beloved sports, social distance, wear your masks, and be as safe as you can. We cannot simply wait this out because who knows how long that will be, we must do our part so that our teams can be back on the courts, fields, trails, or whatever place they compete on. As a parting word Mr. Jahadhmy said, “We’re very optimistic that we’re gonna have sports, you know, we’re optimistic, we want them to, ask much as possible, stay in shape, and I’m looking forward to watching them play.”
Keep your heads up royals and get ready for a sports season like never before!
Latest Updates as of 09/16/20:
- On September 16 new information regarding the Future of San Marcos sports was released via parents square
- Football, cross county(boys/girls), volleyball(boys/girls), water polo(boys/girls), and sideline cheer will start their seasons on the San Marcos Campus in the form of “pods” or small groups of students.
- If students wish to participate in a fall sport but are not signed up for contact the appropriate coach for tryout times.
- For more information about the fall season visit: https://www.parentsquare.com/feeds/4358884?token=2DAg1RnYUjrOcvyL9DVB3A
