But the weather doesn’t cooperate
Sometimes it’s tough to catch a break. Swimming was one of three high school sports due to start on Tuesday, Jan. 19. But it didn’t happen.
At the end of the previous week, two Cornwall Central High School students announced having COVID. As a result, the superintendent reported that the building would be closed for the following week. The news was transmitted in the usual way. School families received a text message advising them to check their email. When they did, they found a message from Superintendent Dade reporting the closure, and reminding them that he was not allowed to divulge the names of the students.
A closed building meant no access to the swimming pool. But Coach John Pinckney was not discouraged.
He arranged “a land drill” for 3 p.m. I arrived a few minutes early with my camera. When I saw the coach, I asked if there was going to be practice. “If anyone shows up,” he answered candidly.
Not show up for practice! Wouldn’t that hurt your chances of representing the team? In a normal year that might be the case. But it doesn’t hold true in 2021. With remote education, the team members are home during the day. Only the ones with cars, or with someone willing to chauffeur them, are able to get to the school.
But some swimmers show up. They report to the coach, who takes their temperature and has them sign a list. Anthony Gurrieri, a team captain, is among the early birds. The coach rewards him by asking him to speak to the reporter.
I’m in a heated car. Anthony approaches the window and tells me that he hasn’t been in the pool since before Christmas. He’s hoping to swim in college, but he needs to improve his times. “Aren’t you cold?” I ask him. I’m bundled up and he’s not wearing a coat. He admits to being a little chilly, but he assures me that he’ll warm up once he starts running.
The captain is not a complainer. I can’t think of any more questions, and for his sake I’m relieved. About a half dozen swimmers start to circle the tennis courts. As they do, Mother Nature gets into the act. It starts to snow, but none of the swimmers seem to care.
I don’t know about you, but I’ll be rooting for them if the season ever gets started.
