During the past year, COVID-19 and the lockdown had an impact on school sports for students. When students returned to in-person learning this school year, Coach Jeremey Duplissey was glad to welcome new and returning runners to Cross Country.  

In the last Cross Country season, the nine-month lockdown caused kids to become less motivated, therefore less active. When a few runners had returned for the winter season, they returned slower due to being cooped up in their homes for so long. So with the start of a new school year and vaccinations becoming available, the motivation to return to sports was growing.

“They’re kids. They’re resilient,” Coach Duplissey said “I got a lot of a lot of comments, from parents, saying that they were glad that they that we have a season”

The team as a whole is taking the pandemic pretty well this season. They wear masks when required and try to social distance themselves as much as possible when they are running. By following the procedures given by the school board, they remain a low-risk sport, but many kids react differently to the pandemic. 

“Different kids handle it differently,” Coach Duplissey said. “You know, there’s not one general way some, some kids are terrified. Some kids do quite well with it. Some kids are just being kids being normal.”

Despite some pandemic drawbacks, things are looking great for the Cross Country team. Coach Duplissey believes that the runners “need each other to, you know, to motivate each other to run.” Compared to the winter season, when the team got together this year, people could run better, feel better, and perform better. 

With such a major improvement in morale and in performance compared to last year, Coach Duplissey is looking forward to the end of the season, “I think our girls are going to win state championship,” said Coach Duplissey. “and our boys should finish in the top 10.”