Early in November, Governor Tim Walz temporarily suspended all high school sports due to a rise in COVID-19 cases. As cases continue to climb, Mounds View students are working to keep themselves in shape for athletics that might not resume this year. Regardless of the sport, all athletes are feeling the toll of these cancellations.

As many try to pursue normalcy, it is nearly impossible when it comes to sports, especially those that involve close contact. Due to health and safety limitations, Mounds View’s hockey teams have yet to even hold official tryouts. Instead, coaches are maintaining the team with virtual meetings and no face-to-face practices, a big change for a sport that requires lots of collaboration.

Evan Streeter, 11, who played for the boys varsity hockey team last year, notes that the shut down’s effects are far more than just physical. “It’s been really tough for everyone not being able to compete and be with our friends,” Streeter said. 

The varsity team is feeling especially dismayed by the delayed season, as this is the last chance many students have at a high school season. “It’s been especially tough for our hockey team, with most of the players being seniors,” Streeter said.

Despite all the changes, Streeter feels that the team will be ready to go once it is deemed safe to do so, but acknowledges it will take some work to get back in the flow of things. “With us not being able to skate we’re going to be a bit rusty when we get back on the ice,” Streeter said. “Even though we’re not skating, the team has been doing virtual workouts together to keep us in shape and get stronger. I think as a group we will be where we need to be after a couple of practices.”  Streeter added that there is hope they may get to practice together in the near future, “Coach Schmidt has very high hopes about us getting on the ice soon.”

As for now, Streeter is focusing on the future, when it will be safe to play again, saying “I’m looking forward to having fun and competing with my teammates.”

On November 18, Governor Tim Walz temporarily delayed the winter sports season due to the rapidly rising number of COVID-19 cases. Winter sports are not allowed to resume until Jan. 4, cutting many seasons extremely short.

Despite this, athletes are still finding ways to stay prepared. One of these athletes is ski team member Brynn Mills, 10. Mills has been on the Nordic Ski team for three years. “I really like the team and really just the sport in general,”  Mills said. 

When news about winter sports hit, Mills was upset. “I was really sad when we found out that winter sports might be postponed or might not even happen because it’s one of my favorite parts of the year,” she said. 

Practices and meetings are now over Zoom where athletes are continuing to prepare for a winter season. “I follow a weekly training plan where I run and ski,” Mills said. “[The team does] Zoom workouts three times a week so that we will be ready.”

However, postponing sports creates more struggles than just a change in training. According to Mills, getting motivation has been a hardship for her. “I have to be a lot more self-motivated because of COVID-19. Usually, I would have a team to motivate me,” Mills said. 

Through all the difficulty COVID-19 has brought on, winter athletes have persevered and found a way to continue doing the sports they love. With that, Mills hopes the ski team will be closer to normal next season. “I think that by next year, things will be more or less back to normal for winter sports but we might still have to wear masks,” Mills said.

As the end of 2020 approaches, almost everyone is in agreement that this year posed challenges previously never dealt with. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused people’s lives to shift in a major way, especially the lives of winter athletes.

Winter sports have been paused due to rising COVID-19 cases, meaning many athletes are missing out on their seasons. Aringha Shree Arumugham, 12, is no exception. She has been a part of the Viewettes dance team for two years. “I absolutely love it. It’s so fun and a great time during my day,” Arumugham said. “I was a little upset because I knew I would be missing some good memories.”

 For now, members of the dance team are training from home. According to Arumugham, the Viewettes train through Zoom and are sending in videos of their progress. “We are supposed to know our routines by heart so that we can jump back into season ready to compete.” she said. “Basically, we do a Zoom practice during the week and we send in videos on our own time for more practice.”

The changes that putting sports on hold has brought also comes new difficulties. “I miss the fun parts and it’s hard to do some of the routines from home so I get frustrated sometimes,” Arumugham said. Even with the difficulties this season, she feels the Viewettes will make it through together.

There is no doubt that this year has been hard on athletes everywhere, but with that hardship comes hope for next year’s season. Arumugham is happy about the possibilities of what may come next year, “I think recently it looks like they are going to have a normal season next year which is very exciting!”