Angela Henry, Sophomore
A lot has happened with sports and COVID-19 for the past year and a half. The world was completely different but over time things are slowly starting to get back to normal. There are still rules that everyone has to follow and events that people could not go to because of COVID-19. The school year has started and things are starting to change. Cheerleading started again this fall and it is gradually getting back to normal but it is still a little different from before. When interviewed, Olivia Knecht, cheerleader at Palisades High School talks about the events and things she did last year. When asked about how the team likes cheerleading this year, she said,“We really like it this year because even with COVID-19, we are still able to do normal cheering things like going to away games and having a crowd for football games.” Olivia is close to everyone on the team and knows how they are
feeling about this year. “Last year was harder because there was only so much that the
cheerleaders could do with the high COVID-19 restrictions. This year we don’t have as many which again makes it easier and more fun.” Olivia explained that last year was different and a little more difficult than this year.
Olivia was asked how COVID-19 affected her personally from an athletic standpoint. "Being a cheerleader you have to be peppy and happy and with COVID-19, that can bring a lot of stress and other emotions that can dampen the spirit. So personally, I do my best to work out my stress and to make sure that if I can’t work out the stress, I at least put it aside while cheering so I am giving my best.”
COVID-19 has changed everything normal about sports in general, even changing the bus seating arrangements. It is hard to stay six feet apart from each other on a bus because there is a limited amount of space. There are twenty cheerleaders and two coaches and it is hard to fit all of the equipment on the bus alongside social-distancing. This year is different and there are fewer requirements for student athletes. “The only thing we have with that is just to wear a mask on the bus. Other than that, its normal seating. Sit with whoever you want and in whatever seat.” The seating arrangement and the mask rules have changed in 2021. Last year you were supposed to wear your mask during practice all of the time and stay six feet away when outside. Now, this year the bus arrangements are different and mask requirements are no longer required when outside. “I know last year the wearing of masks was during games and during practice. This year, we have to wear them during practice if we are inside for practice but in big games, we don’t have to wear them. We had to wear our masks full time last year.” Unfortunately, last year the cheerleaders were not allowed to go to a lot of games and cheer because of COVID-19 but asking Olivia what the team is looking for this year, she said, “Going to away games and having a crowd
for the games.”
There are two coaches on the team. “This year we have coach Dawn and coach Marry who are both wonderful and make cheer fun with everything.” Olivia, asked about how the team feels about the changes that happened because of COVID-19, she said, “It's definitely better this year. The changes this year were more like going back to normality.” The cheerleaders are really ready and waiting for the homecoming game. “Honestly, there is nothing that I don’t like about this year. Everything this year has a more normal feel to it which makes cheer not be stressful like it was last year with COVID-19.”
This year is changing rapidly and many are wondering how spring sports will turn out with all the challenges.
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