By: Katelyn Chang, Editor-in-Chief

This year, Mills sports returned to its normal fervor with the reintroduction of normal practices, games, and team activities. After an entire year and a half of COVID-19 impacting sports and questions hung up in the air of how athletes were going to be able to continue in their respective sports, Mills athletes have begun the return to normalcy this fall semester. With the renewal of in-person games and familiar experiences for upperclassmen, underclassmen were also able to experience playing games in front of home crowds and their loved ones. Fall sports including Water Polo, Cross Country, Football, Water Polo, Girls Tennis, Girls Golf, and Girls Volleyball kicked off the year of athletics.  

However, with the end of fall semester nearing closer and closer, many students are also eagerly awaiting the introduction of winter sports. This includes the arrival of wrestling, soccer, basketball, and spirit squad. These sports allow for more student-athletes to represent Mills with their sport of choice, and experience their sport to the fullest extent once again.

With most winter sports holding tryouts during the opening week of November, the season is just around the corner. Plenty of student-athletes are ecstatic about impending tryouts, practices, and of course, games. Max Zaninovich (10) voices his excitement stating, “Last year, due to COVID-19 we had a shortened, somewhat unfulfilling season. This year we actually get to play a full season in front of a full crowd. I am ecstatic for the opportunity to be able to have the Mills community behind my back and cheering me on”. Zaninovich echoes the sentiments and feelings of many Mills athletes on how the in-person audiences provide a much welcomed adrenaline boost during games. He continues expressing that, “Last year when spectator attendance was capped at two per player, it didn’t quite feel right and I can’t wait for the season to start”. When I play my games and I can hear my teammates and audience cheering on from the stands it pushes me to play even better. I think a lot of my team also feels the same way because we normally perform better together when our spirits are high”. Senior Annalese Leung (12) adds on, “‘I’m excited for this year. It’ll definitely be different because of COVID-19, but I have high hopes that we can get through without much struggle”. 

Fall sports participants were already able to experience a somewhat normal season in terms of being able to play their games, have their practices, and play in front of a normal crowd.” If all goes well, students-athletes participating in winter and spring sports should get to experience the same. However, it’s important to acknowledge that because of the pandemic still playing a large role in safety, and especially for athletes, precautionary tactics must still be in place. This plays an increasingly essential role regarding the fact that many sports occurring during the winter season are high contact, such as basketball and wrestling, COVID-19 restrictions will still be in place to keep students safe. Such mandates include mask wearing during practices and games, as well as a vaccine or negative COVID test within 48 hours or competition to prevent any additional outbreaks of the virus ensuring that sports can still operate normally. Here’s to hoping for a bigger and brighter season full of success for our Viking athletes!