The MHS football team’s traditional practice in December is indefinitely delayed due to COVID-19, MHS Head Football Coach Kelly King wrote in an email. California is not permitting any games until Jan. 25, King wrote.
The football team has prepared for increased COVID-19 restrictions, King said in a Zoom interview. The team has been doing socially distant COVID-19 workouts throughout fall, King continued.
“We can’t be inside the weight room during the off-season, so [the team] is doing more push-ups than normal,” King said. “It’s a little different, but we do get some agility work [and] concepts in. [The team] is broken into two pieces and [remain] in their areas as they work out [by the field]. We’ve tried to be on the side of caution at all times.”
The team is waiting for the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) to update the guidelines for conduct during the 2020-2021 season, King said. The team does not know if there will be audiences or how the CIF will enforce any new rules involving COVID-19, King continued.
Despite increased uncertainties, junior Cody Gonzalez said over a Zoom interview that he thinks there are some benefits for players because of COVID-19. The team learned to organize practice meetings online, and players have more time to work out because of season delays, Gonzalez added.
Senior Jared Cabanilla thinks the team will prosper in the upcoming season, he said over a Zoom interview. “Most of the seniors left, but there are many people on the team that stepped up to fill their positions. I think we are a pretty solid team and will be successful this season.”
Although the team is not entirely sure if the CIF will cancel the spring season, they are still excited about the future, King said. The team is trying to look at the positives of the situation, King added.
“I know there’s a lot of negativity that’s gone around, but [negativity] only goes one way: downwards,” King said. “We’re always looking for our next opportunity, and whatever happens to us, we’re going to keep pushing forward. I think that’s who we are.”