A high school game canceled because of COVID-19 has become such routine news it barely causes a raised eyebrow. But now the pandemic has robbed prep sports of one of its most intense local rivalries.
The decision last week to move Caledonia High School to virtual learning for two weeks because of a COVID-19 outbreak carried with it the cancellation of after-school activities. But none leave a bigger hole in the schedule than the opening football game against rival New Hope, which was moved to Thursday this year to let it stand alone on the prep football slate.
Now, it’s just another on a list of canceled games, a list which is certain to grow. And while it would have been a big event, for Cavaliers football coach Michael Kelly it’s still just one game on the schedule.
“Obviously we know who our first opponent is, and we know them well,” Kelly said. “We don’t have any secrets, and they don’t have any secrets. … We firmly believe that all 10 games on the schedule, if the kids do what they’re supposed to do, we can win.”
Kelly mentioned that last year, when nobody really knew what to expect from the new virus, the program escaped almost unscathed.
“We made it through last year with only one positive test throughout the whole team,” Kelly said. “This summer, we had 70 kids four days a week in that field house, and they were fine.”
Kelly noted that earlier waves of the virus had little impact on young people, “partly because of their age and partly because of how well they take care of their bodies.” But Kelly understood the move to virtual learning with the statistics looking different now.
“We don’t want them bringing it home to their parents and families,” he said. “At the end of the day, we want everybody to be safe.”
Caledonia volleyball coach Samantha Brooks also had a largely smooth season a year ago.
“Last year, when there was the potential for us to have COVID affect our season, we were really fortunate,” Brooks said. “We only had to reschedule one game with Shannon because they had a rough season with it.”
Unlike their counterparts in football, the volleyball players had begun their season when the school moved to virtual learning.
“We played a small tournament at Pontotoc,” Brooks said, noting the Cavaliers defeated Belmont and Amory in that Aug. 7 event. Three days later, they defeated New Hope. “Then Thursday the 12th we lost to Amory, and Friday we were shut down for two weeks.”
That possibility was always in their heads, Brooks said.
“Coming into this season we knew it was a very big possibility,” she said. “We took all of the precautions we could. We kept our hands clean, sanitized before water breaks, stayed apart as much as we could during drills.”
Kelly and Brooks think their players will come out of this unplanned break ready to go.
“I’ve got a really athletic group of girls,” Brooks said. “Between JV and varsity we have 26 players. Of those, we had 19 play club volleyball in the offseason last year. … Of the seven that didn’t play, all but one had other sports, so they were staying in shape.
“They’re a really mature group as far as handling a situation. I think they’ll bounce back just fine as long as they stay healthy.”
“Our kids are resilient,” Kelly agreed. “And I can say this about the volleyball girls and our kids: They work their butts off. And we’ll hit the ground running, whether it’s them on the hard court or us on the grass.”
“I think we’ll come back rested and rejuvenated after the break,” said Brooks, who thought her team seemed physically and mentally exhausted after the loss to Amory. “If our girls can stay healthy, we can come back to practice Thursday the 26th. We had to cancel that night against Starkville. We’ll practice the 27th, then middle school, JV and varsity all have tournaments the 28th. And then we head into district play (at Itawamba) the 31st.”
For the football team, revised MSHAA guidelines mean the expected loss of two games is now just one. The Cavaliers will be back at practice Tuesday in preparation for the opener at 7 p.m. Sept. 3 against Amory at home.
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