The coronavirus has done its fair share of damage to 2020, affecting sports seasons is no exception to that damage. After losing spring seasons and summer workouts, the IHSA allowed sports to have contact days this fall. These contact days are like open gyms or non mandatory practices and are a great way for student athletes to prepare for their seasons. With these contact days, the Galena High School basketball programs have been able to put work in these past two months, and it hasn’t been easy. 

Basketball is a contact sport and due to recent changes to the IHSA sports risk list, it is now high risk. High risk means that the players are at a high risk of catching the virus because the sport involves a lot of direct contact and very little social distancing. Although the team is excited to be back in the gym together, starting a practice looks different this year. For all open gyms, players and coaches must take their temperatures before playing. Everyone in the gym needs to be wearing a face covering throughout the whole practice. Freshman girls basketball player, Addie Hefel said, “Wearing a mask has been difficult, but it hasn’t stopped the team. We still work hard in practice and are expecting this season -if it happens- to turn out great.”

Although that can be difficult, everyone has high hopes for their upcoming seasons. Junior girls basketball player, Maggie Furlong said, “Open gyms have been going really well, we are adjusting to our new team and the younger kids have been picking up on things very quickly. I am very excited to see what this new team brings to the table this season.” 

Senior basketball player, Jacob Townsend stated, “It has gone really well so far despite covid. I’m really excited for this season because we will be very good and can hopefully make a postseason run.” Both teams are looking forward to being able to play and are eager to see whether or not their seasons will become a reality. Due to recent changes made by the Governor and IHSA, the teams are not sure when their first games will take place. Right now there will most likely be no spectators, but thanks to our wonderful communications class at GHS, all the games will be live streamed!