Last Wednesday, Holy Cross boys basketball head coach Ryan Olsen extended an invitation to me to come to tryouts.
The Crusaders were in their final day of tryouts, and I was there to talk to Olsen afterward for a story for the Republican-American.
Hearing the bouncing of basketballs and the voices of both players and coaches was wonderful. Everyone, myself included, was wearing a mask. That’s the reality we’re in due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fine by me. I was just happy to hear the sounds of preparation for another basketball season.
I, like others, have trepidations about what kind of season will transpire, and how long it will last. People are being vaccinated, and the daily numbers are looking better, though Connecticut just passed 7,000 deaths, a very sobering reminder of the impact of the virus. Also, the Waterbury public schools haven’t been in school, never mind had tryouts, and that delay was extended to at least today by the Nor’easter that’s slamming the area.
All involved in high school sports remember where they were when the season suddenly ended in March of last year. There was plenty of consternation, even anger, about the decision, but sports became a secondary concern as the pandemic surged.
Plenty of basketball was played in masks during the summer and fall, according to local coaches. Hopefully more gets played during the winter, but all anyone can do is be smart, be safe, and take everything one day at a time.
Photo caption: Holy Cross senior Jahvon Myrthil goes up for a layup during the final day of tryouts last Wednesday at the school.
