Waking up in the morning and seeing a wintry, snowy landscape creates a whimsical nostalgia that people of all ages can recall. However, once March arrives and spring sports begin, students, faculty, and coaches no longer want nostalgia; they want warmth.
Warm spring weather has just started its slow arrival. The Woodland tennis courts are wet, and any tennis player knows that it’s unsafe to play on a wet court because of slipping hazards. Senior Girls’ Tennis Captain Erica Boccuzzi agrees.
“When the courts are wet or icy, tennis shoes slip,” said Boccuzzi, “and players are more likely to roll an ankle or fall and get injured. This has been a setback for the team but won’t stop us on our way to victory.” Playing tennis in hazardous conditions has made practicing difficult, but tennis players are still finding a way to get in some play time.
Meanwhile, the track is blanketed in a fine layer of snow, so just like cars on a wet road, track runners can’t get the traction they need to function properly. No one knows this danger like long-distance runner Sydney Patterson.
“It’s really dangerous to be practicing on the track because everyone is slipping,” said Patterson. “Kids are getting sick because we’ve been running through the cold rain.” This wet weather has proven to be a hazard to the health and physical condition of Woodland students.
Towards the end of most spring sports seasons in late May and June, temperatures may be reaching up to 90 degrees. Students are currently practicing outside, wearing thick layers or even trash bags to protect themselves from the snow and rain; although they will actually be wearing shorts and tank tops during their events. These athletes are having difficulty preparing for sweaty, heated conditions when base training is starting in the snow and winter weather.
Some sports that require room and open space are unable practice to the fullest extent. The baseball and softball teams should be practicing in big, grassy fields, which is impossible because the school’s fields are covered in puddles, mud, and snow. The teams have been practicing in the school gym in shifts; pitchers can’t hone in on their speed skills, and batters have a difficult time hitting a home run when confined to the restrictions of the building. Freshman baseball player Matt Szturma believes that the snow will affect the baseball season because “practices are deteriorating and we can’t hit as hard, so working out isn’t legitimate when we don’t play on the field.”
The snow and cold weather has been confining the practices of most spring sports, and it’s become a safety concern with the students. This unbelievably cold March will take a toll on the results of all spring sports, for both Woodland teams and opponents.
