The long-awaited return of high-risk winter sports at Northport High School, including boys and girls basketball, competitive cheerleading and wrestling has arrived. As the district begins implementing the various protocols put in place by Section XI, students are adapting and showing their excitement for this slice of normalcy.
On February 3rd, students began their tryouts in the school’s gyms. As coaches reviewed the new protocols and checked off the necessary documentation for students to participate, they began warmups and returned to the court. Eager students kicked off tryouts with drills and a commitment to staying safe and protecting their peers.
Despite the heightened safety precautions, student-athletes appeared thrilled to be back to participating. “It’s awesome to have our student athletes back to playing. Their dedication to their respective sports and willingness to persevere through the various precautions is so impressive. It’s a true representation of school spirit,” shared Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics Mark Dantuono.
Coaches have been working diligently to ensure students are prepared for the season ahead as well. When discussing the coaches, Mr. Dantuono added “Our coaching staff rose to the challenge and have been doing a fantastic job implementing all of the newly required protocols along with preparing their teams for competition.”