Final thoughts on the 2020 – 2021 sports season

THE+PACK+PLAYS+ON-+MACES+boys+basketball+played+their+last+home+game+of+the+season+on+June+3rd.+Senior+David+Torres+fires+a+three+to+close+out+the+playoff+win+against+Panorama.+

Gabriel Dominguez

THE PACK PLAYS ON- MACES boys basketball played their last home game of the season on June 3rd. Senior David Torres fires a three to close out the playoff win against Panorama.

Gabriel Dominguez, Sports Editor

    The 2021 sports season was an unprecedented challenge. Filled with changes and endless restrictions, many believed sports would be canceled entirely in 2021. However, athletic competition did go on and the Wolfpack definitely made the best of the unprecedented season. Combining for over 20 regular season victories across all sports, MACES athletes hunted through the challenges of this season.  All sports ended up competing at the same time, something that has never happened before. There were footballs being thrown in the spring along with bats being swung and basketballs being shot.  However, amid the pandemic, lots of restrictions and precautions had to be taken, such as less fans in attendance, spaced out bus seating and weekly COVID testing.

    Athletes that competed this season expressed satisfaction with all the measures taken. ¨I believe that the COVID-19 precautions and rules implemented were enough to keep anyone involved in this athletic season safe. I think MACES handled the COVID situation very well,¨ said junior and girls volleyball player Isamar Lara. On top of the safety precautions implemented, there were lots of scheduling changes. Teams did not play the normal amount of regular season games as time was quickly ticking. Less games were played during the season to make room for playoff competition. 

    The Wolfpack expressed some frustration – but mostly gratitude at the fact they were able to compete this year.  ¨I’m more grateful because it’s my last year and I worked really hard over quarantine to get ready for a season,¨ said senior and boys volleyball player Brandon Garcia. 

   Boys and girls volleyball, along with baseball and softball and girls and boys basketball and boys and girls soccer will all compete in playoffs this season. Despite all the change, the Wolfpack competed at the highest level with many highlights along the way such as girls volleyball making a comeback from being down two sets to none in a playoff game or Wolfpack baseball scoring 43 runs in a single game! 

    Coach Benavidez expressed a bit more satisfaction from being able to play this season compared to previous years. “There’s some players who lost family, so to even be playing and the cherry on top is that we’re doing very well, we’ve actually played a pretty complete season considering all that has happened, we’ve done very well,” coach Benavidez said. 

    The Wolfpack sports teams will compete in playoffs, aiming to finish an unprecedented season with a perfect ending. All the teams will compete in the playoffs with both boys and girls volleyball reaching the City Championship game. Athletic director Mr Gomez expressed nothing but pride in his school’s execution during this unforgettable season. ¨Compared to other schools, we had every team participate, every coach stepped up, and I’m very proud of all of our players and coaches,” said Gomez.