Winter Sports: Keeping Players Safe and in the Game

Written by Alexis Dehner and Audrey Frazier 1/15/21

Winter Sports: Keeping Players Safe and in the Game

“Yes, wrestling with a mask isn’t easy,” stated varsity wrestler Dakota Woolcock, “However, we will do whatever it takes to do what we love.”

Despite originally being postponed, winter sports are making a comeback as students have returned to school in a hybrid model. Cheerleading, basketball, wrestling, and swimming are all being offered to students of Cranberry.

Along with the return of winter sports came new regulations to slow the spread of COVID-19. All activities save for swimming require participants to wear a mask at all times, including during games, practice, and in the locker rooms. Swimmers will be required to wear a mask at all times other than while they are in the water.

Swimmer, Ansley Svolos, at Oil City/Cranberry Co-Op swim practice (photo taken by Ava Fischer)

“I think a sports season where I have to wear a mask and follow COVID-19 guidelines is better than having no sports season at all,” stated Emerson Culver, a current member of the Oil City swim team.

Mr. Earp, the athletic director of Cranberry High School, has been contacting each opposing team to ensure masks will be worn by not only our students, but the members of opposing teams as well. Students with a physician signed face-covering exemption, however, will not be required to wear a mask.

The support of our community is more crucial than ever as these athletes return to playing their sports while following the new regulations.

Due to the continued limitations in spectators, selected events will be live-streamed and posted on the Cran News Youtube page as well as the CranNews JPub Facebook page for the public to view.