Blue Devils United

By Sarah Hiott | April 29, 2021 | Sports

Bleachers once full of enthusiastic crowds cheering on their favorite team are now quiet as the coronavirus continues to socially distance students across the world. High school students have lost the ability to partake in exciting events such as dances, showcases, and pep rallies, leaving few occasions to encourage school spirit and boost morale. Despite an absence of students on campuses due to enrollment in Duval HomeRoom isolating them at home, sports have been able to provide athletes with the togetherness that has been missing as a result of the pandemic.

The ongoing pandemic paired with Stanton’s rigor has caused students to find themselves trapped beneath a growing burden of demands, responsibilities, and personal anxiety. Over the last year, schools have been closed, public locations have added new policies, and the ability to see friends and loved ones has been minimized. The abrupt transition left teenagers feeling a need to return to activities they love during these chaotic times. By returning to athletics, students have a slight return to normalcy for a few hours and experience the joy that has been lacking this last year.

"I really needed that calmness, especially in times like these,” said sophomore Micah Andrews, a member of the boys junior varsity soccer team and varsity swim team. “Essentially, it's my escape from school and work, even if it's just for a couple hours."

Student athletes use sports as a remedy for the stresses of high school, as well as a distraction from the pandemic. Both the intimate relationships among teammates and the catharsis of playing sports can help alleviate athletes’ stressors. The Anxiety & Depression Association of America, or ADAA, says those who participate in regular exercise are 25 percent less likely to develop depression or anxiety disorders. Student athletes can also be surrounded by friends with a common interest and get some relaxation time apart from the troubles of school, work, tests, and personal conflicts.

“I find athletics are a way to relieve frustration and stress,” said sophomore Jordan Lyle, who is part of Stanton’s cheer and flag football teams. “If something upsets me at school, I know I have a time and place to get out my frustration and then move on with my day.”

For students like Lyle, having the ability to participate in sports teams and see their friends on the team played a major role in deciding to return to campus. The availability of sports for brick and mortar students provides a reprieve from the pressures of high school. Students who returned to brick and mortar classes were able to return to their friends and be a part of their teams for the season, helping to combat the loneliness felt since social distancing guidelines have been put in place.

“Both the soccer and swim teams were the only reason I decided to come back to school instead of staying online,” said Andrews. 

Even though brick and mortar learning allows students to return to athletics, those who have been contact traced and required to quarantine for one to two weeks at a time also face the dilemma of not being able to participate in sports. Returning to school after being quarantined adds a sense of motivation to work hard for the team that they missed.

“We’ve had teams that had to quarantine for a week or two, and when they come back they’re excited to be there and make the best of it,” said coach Christopher Crider, Stanton’s Athletic Director and head coach of the junior varsity flag football team.

As for students who are in Duval HomeRoom and are unable to return to school, athletics are a way to see friends and leave the seclusion of quarantine for a few days each week. 

“Being part of a sports team during the pandemic helps because it’s a place where I can just forget about all the negativity or any stress I’m feeling and all I can focus on is playing and having fun with my teammates,” said senior Ro Vemuri, a member of Stanton’s boys varsity basketball team who is able to spend time with teammates by returning to Stanton athletics. “I also miss seeing my friends everyday at school.”

The hectic attempts to adjust to the new reality of a pandemic can be calmed by the familial bond between teammates. Players see each other as more than just teammates, but instead as part of a united front working towards a common goal.

“I cannot stress enough how strong the bond between athletes is,” said Andrews. “The unseen part [by those not in sports] is how much we actually rely on each other and how strong the bond actually is.”

The bond is felt between athletes during games, when a team has to use collective strength and account for each other’s weaknesses to perform their best and win. The connections formed when working to become a championship team each day with a group are unlike any other. Teammates rely on one another, especially during the most important moments of a game, thereby sharing the passion for the sport. This reliance and daily synergy required on a team creates an understanding between athletes that has brought them all the way to regional championships.

“When we’re all on the field we come together as a family that is fighting for one goal,” said senior Miles Andre, a member of Stanton’s boys varsity soccer team. “We build [relationships] with each other and that’s what makes us one of the best teams in the city.”

Coaches at Stanton have also seen positive effects of sports in athletes’ lives during this time. COVID-19 has restricted many exciting pastimes but the return to sports has given one back. Being around each other and engaging in an outside activity that boosts both mental and physical health is a benefit to athletes while also being a distraction from the uncertainty throughout the world. 

“It keeps their mind off the harsh reality and allows them to have some leisure and enjoy an activity that they really care about,” said Coach Crider.

Athletes at Stanton have been able to overcome new stressors and the isolation of a pandemic by finding support in their teams. The confusion and struggles of adapting to the new normal has been a struggle for everyone, but the bond between athletes has provided a support system for teammates during the difficult time. Returning to sports gives a renewed sense of togetherness for teammates who work together on the field and against the world.