By Evelyn Fu
In the midst of quarantine, the last chance for seniors to participate in sports is approaching. Many activities have been halted due to COVID-19, but sports at MHS will still run, starting in mid-December.
Although sports will continue, it is sad that the sports season will be shorter, and more safety regulations have to be put in action, Senior Badminton Player Kaelynn Tan said in a text message. With the current quarantine situation, there are less opportunities to exercise and socialize with friends during practice, Tan added.
“Due to COVID-19, I feel like it will be harder to coordinate practices since we can’t have large gatherings in a confined space,” Tan said. “I think sports will still happen, and I will continue to play sports, but there will be a lot more safety regulations than before to keep everyone safe.”
The sports season has not started yet, so it is hard to determine whether sports will happen or be cancelled last minute, Senior Tennis Player Joshua Chen said in a text message. Summer workouts for tennis have started, but it is uncertain if they have been approved, Chen added.
“I feel like [sports are] a necessary part of everyday life,” Senior Tennis Player Matthew Song said in a text message. “We can’t really be in close proximity with people anymore, but if anything, [sports are] more important because we’re spending so much time sitting at home,” Song added. “I probably won’t opt out [of doing sports] because of COVID-19 because the sport I play, tennis, isn’t very contact-based, and we usually are more than six feet apart, even in doubles matches.”
Although sports will be harder to carry out with the new adjustments and will not have the authenticity of a regular sports season, the restrictions ensure the safety of family members, Senior Cross Country Participant Michelle Dang said in a text message. Without sports, there is more time to relax and focus on homework, so sports in quarantine is not all bad, Dang added.
“I plan on opting out until it is safe enough to continue practicing again,” Dang said. “I definitely miss all the close relationships and bonds I have built with my other teammates along with the enthusiasm we created during each competition. The energy that was created motivated one another to push themselves in order to become a better athlete.”