Mercer Island High School athletes participate in optional outdoor fall practices

Coaches and athletes’ health is being closely monitored.

By Andy Nystrom • November 14, 2020 8:30 am
Mercer Island High School football players participate in a recent practice, which features six-person pods. Photo courtesy of Kyle McKenna
Mercer Island High School football players participate in a recent practice, which features six-person pods. Photo courtesy of Kyle McKenna

Mercer Island High School athletes are finally — and safely — back in action and participating in optional outdoor fall practices that kicked off on Nov. 4.

According to Gov. Jay Inslee’s new COVID-19 guidelines unveiled on Nov. 15, outdoor activities are limited to intra-team practices only, with facial coverings required for all coaches, volunteers and athletes at all times.

As of last week, about 320 Islanders were gathering with their squads in six-person pods for outdoor training (they will now train in pods of five). Girls and boys soccer and football were at the school stadium; cheer and volleyball were at Island Park Elementary; drill was at Northwood Elementary; boys and girls golf were at the Jefferson and Twin Rivers courses; cross country was at Island Crest Park, Pioneer Park and Luther Burbank Park; and boys swimming was at The Mercer Island Beach Club’s outdoor pool.

Before Nov. 15, masks were worn at all times by coaches, and athletes always wore masks except when they were engaging in strenuous activity within their pods, according to MIHS athletic coordinator Kyle McKenna last week, adding that athletes can participate in only one sport at this time. McKenna added on Nov. 16 that athletes now must always wear masks.

For boys swimming, McKenna said the school received confirmation that Inslee’s new regulations don’t apply to pools, so practices will continue. Swimmers will wear masks at all times when they are not in the pool.

A letter on the MIHS athletics website notes that practices began on Nov. 4 in accordance with the mandates of the Decision Tree, governor’s office and the Mercer Island School District. McKenna added that they worked hard on creating a plan that everyone was comfortable with and district leadership was ready to offer practices at that point.

In order to participate in practices, athletes and coaches must complete a daily wellness screening on Skyward, which is the district communication and information source, complete a COVID training module and more.

“I think a big part of the first few weeks is just assessing fitness, but also the social-emotional part of it, just being able to interact and talk to people in person and be around your teammates. I think it’s been really overwhelmingly positive in that regard from both parents and student athletes,” McKenna said.

Added varsity football head coach Ed Slezinger: “Having a restart has been a positive experience. Being able to see our young men interacting with each other in small pods, having access to each other, seeing the body language of enjoyment, has been a blessing. Needless to say for the players and the coaching staff having some return to a normal state is both welcomed and necessary. These days we take nothing for granted, so we’re excited to have the opportunity even in this limited state.”

The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association’s current plans are to begin Season 2 on Dec. 28 and feature the usual winter sports of boys and girls basketball, boys swim and dive, gymnastics, wrestling and bowling.

Season 3, which is planned to start on March 1, will feature volleyball, girls soccer, 1B/2B boys soccer, football, cross country, slowpitch softball, girls swim and dive, golf, tennis and cheer. And Season 4, scheduled to begin on April 26, will feature tennis, fastpitch softball, track and field, baseball, golf, 1A-4A boys soccer and dance/drill. The fall Season 1 was canceled due to COVID, and cross country, slowpitch, girls swim and dive, golf and tennis were moved to the third installment.

McKenna said the WIAA is trying to figure out the COVID metric for determining whether they will begin Season 2 on the proposed date. The current competition metric for high-risk sports like basketball and wrestling, for instance, is 25 cases per 100,000 residents over 14 days and less than 5 percent positivity.

“I think there’s a lot of smart athletic directors in KingCo and in our district and surrounding areas that, whatever the situation is, will find a way to advocate best for the student athletes and try to make something work,” he said.