September 26, 2020  |  By Katie Martin

*Signs of fall: Student athletes on the fields at Harwood Union High School and foliage turning bright colors as a backdrop. Photo by Katie Martin.*

Despite the delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Harwood Unified Union School District athletics programs have finally kicked off their preseason practices with games and meets landing on the calendar starting this week.

The new school attendance structure for in-class and remote days of learning in the district has students adjusting to a new after-school sports schedule. Fall sports started for high school students on Sept. 8 with restrictions on student athletes depending on what school days students attend. Middle school practices began the following week.

The school year began with one day in person, four days remote, and has shifted now to two days in person, three remote.

The usual pre-season athletics meeting for athletes and their parents along with Athletic Department staff and coaches was replaced this year with a 20-minute video message from Athletic Director Chris Langevin. In it, he set the scene for a different season ahead but with a positive outlook that athletics will still happen.

“The fall 2020 season is going to be a season unlike any other,” he said. “We are calling this the season of gratitude.”

Langevin outlined the procedures the program will follow along with usual policies for athletes to know. He noted how schools across Vermont were opening at the “Step II” level that allowed for practices but not competitions. Last week, state officials updated that guidance to the “Step III” level that will permit competitions which will begin Sept. 28 at the high school level. So far competitions at the middle school level have not been scheduled yet.

Students attending the Harwood Union High School and Middle School begin their day with an early morning screening before entering the building and eventually heading to the playing fields after classes. For student athletes who had a remote learning day, or students who left campus after school and before practice, they must line up by car to be re-screened in order to play. Every day students must be screened for COVID-19 symptoms before they are allowed to take part in any physical activity for the day, and coaches must take an online health questionnaire daily.

After screenings, athletes head to practices which include a new twist for each sport. Coaches and student athletes alike say they have been excited to get the season started since preseason training usually starts in August.

Field Hockey

The Harwood varsity field hockey program has a new head coach for the 2020 season who came with a long history of playing and coaching the game. Sophie Tretiak of Waitsfield joined the field hockey program after coaching at Montpelier High School for several years. Tretiak, originally from Massachusetts, has been playing field hockey since she was eight years old. After high school, she played at the collegiate level at Salve Regina University, in Rhode Island for four years before moving to Vermont, and embarking on her coaching career for the Monpetlier Solons.

“The first few weeks have been great. We've had the most beautiful fall weather, it's perfect for field hockey. Despite the restrictions due to COVID-19, things are off to a great start.

The team is very positive and I think we're all having fun and working hard!” Tretiak said about her first few weeks with the team.

When asked how COVID-19 is impacting field hockey, Tretiak replied that everything seems different. From picking up equipment at the end of practice, or running around doing drills with masks, everything has a new twist.

Tretiak added she is looking forward to having games this season, even if it’s a short one. She said she and her team are very grateful to just be playing. “We have about 24 players. It's a great amount for a field hockey team. We've been spending time getting to know each other with some team building activities. We've done a lot of conditioning and drills and the last few days we've spent more time on real game scenarios and specific plays. In just a few weeks we've already seen improvements in the players conditioning and skills,” Tretiak said.

Cross Country

In his 43rd year coaching one of the most revered cross country programs in Vermont, John Kerrigan said not much on his team has been impacted by COVID-19. There are no Saturday practices and practices are spit into two sessions -- one at 3 p.m. and one at 5 p.m. “Numbers are slightly down -- this year 53 -- last year 60,” Kerrigan said. “But some graduated and others switched to bass fishing or volleyball.”

State guidelines make an exception regarding masks for student athletes in cross country. Runners do not have to wear masks while running in practice or at scheduled meets. When asked what his fondly named “army” has been working on, Kerrigan said increasing VO max, stamina and strength on long runs, hill repeats, and teaching younger runners to get out of their comfort zones.

As far as early season goals, the girls team is eyeing another state championship, an honor Harwood girls have won the last 10 out of 11 years. The boys team looks to improve on last year's fifth place finish at states.

Kerrigan as always praised his team members. “Our runners are respectful, hard-working, and socially acceptable of everyone. All want to become part of something bigger than themselves. Great bunch of kids,” he said.

Boys and Girls Golf

The boys and girls golf teams were excited to tee off their fall season this year under the guidance of Brian McCarthy in his 20th season as head coach.

This year the program has 13 boys and five girls who have all been practicing at Sugarbush Resort. McCarthy said golf has an easier time dealing with COVIOD-19 restrictions as his sport is outside and it is easier to socially distance with compared to other sports.

“The major changes are no matches with other schools. At no time will players from different schools be on the same hole. We have the privilege of using three courses this season: Country Club of Vermont, Sugarbush, and Blush Hill have all given us some time to play and practice. This is an amazing gesture on these clubs part since golf in general is the busiest it's been in years due to the pandemic. We are very grateful and fortunate to have these clubs support Harwood Golf,” McCarthy said.

Since starting, McCarthy said that his team has been working on course management, new rules, and working on swings. Coming off of last season, McCarthy said a goal is to make it to states in early October.

McCarthy also echoed Langevin’s theme of gratitude for the season. “Coaching Harwood golf especially this year is a gift and I am so grateful and proud of this group. And again, without the support of three great courses, this season wouldn't be possible,” he said.

Bass Fishing

One of the newest Vermont high school sports is bass fishing now in its second season with head coaches Scott Green and Adam Lamson. Even with the limited time in the fall season, Green said that it hasn’t stopped his team from getting some excellent practices this fall.

Green commented that there are three returning members and two new students this year. The team graduated four seniors last year.

“COVID has been a challenge at times with verbal instruction and skills instruction but the athletes have done an excellent job with social distancing as a fishing rod is about 7 feet long, it easy to keep an appropriate distance,” Green explained. “The team has classroom instruction outside in the front circle on Tuesdays. Thursdays we typically find a pond or river that is close by for practice and on the weekend, we try to get on the water for a catch-and-release day.”

Unfortunately, the club's first two official events were cancelled. Team is currently getting ready for the Bass Fishing State Championship on Oct. 3 in South Hero. Last year, the Harwood team finished third out of 17 teams.

“With returning upperclassmen we should have a good showing this year as well. Most of the team set a goal of catching their personal best or largest bass during the season. I think with all the hard work during practice they will all have a chance at that,” Green said. “With a long winter season that will be here shortly, the team takes every opportunity to get outside and explore Vermont's great fishing and meet other student athletes with the same interest.”

Boys Soccer

In his third year as head varsity coach for the boys soccer program, Joe Yalicki is pleased at his athletes' fitness levels. Yalicki said that his team came into the season with good conditioning already under their belt, and the rust of the off-season seems to be wearing off.

The boys program showed a slight decrease in numbers from the years past, but the varsity program has a roster of 25 athletes, and junior varsity has 14.

“I am looking forward to seeing returning players progress and hoping to see new players fit in and push their way into consistent roles with their teammates. We have had a few intrasquad scrimmages to try and see where players are most comfortable and effective on the field. We have tried to focus on fitness two-three days per week. I also focused on fun enjoyable practice sessions after many months away from the game,” Yalicki said.

Yalicki said a goal now is to improve upon the last practice every time the teams get together. Yalicki added that like the other HU coaches, he’s grateful for the opportunity to be back and to have the ability to play this fall. Yalicki is joined by assistant coach Eric Mackey.

Girls Soccer

In his seventh year of coaching the girls varsity soccer program, joined by goalie coach Brett Belknap, Mike Vasseur praised his athletes saying they have been awesome so far considering all the pandemic concerns.

A total of 46 players tried out with the final numbers at 20 on varsity and 18 on JV, Vasseur said.

So far the varsity squad has been working hard to get touches and forming a cohesive team. Vassuer added that being able to have the opportunity for a first game will be a reward. Coming off of last year’s tough loss in the championship game, Vasseur said his team is working towards winning their last game this year.

Vasseur noted that a highlight of the fall season will still happen this year despite COVID-19. The annual Mary Harris Girls Youth Soccer Day hosted and run by the Harwood girls soccer program will be Sunday, Oct. 4. The annual event was renamed in remembrance of Mary Harris, a Harwood soccer player who tragically died along with four friends in a wrong-way car crash Oct. 8, 2016.

The practice where the high school teams train with dozens of youngsters from preschool through eighth grade has been a tradition at Harwood for many years. Its commemorative t-shirts were redesigned after the event was named to honor Harris. They now carry the message “Love like Mary.”

Volleyball

The Highlander volleyball program also has a new coach this fall. Peter Arsenault is joined the Harwood Union Middle School and High School staff as a physical education teacher with the second role as volleyball coach.

A graduate of the University of New Hampshire, Arsenault played rugby and volleyball and previously coached volleyball at Needham High School in Massachusetts, before moving to Vermont. He comes to Harwood from U-32 High School where he taught physical education.

New health guidelines regarding COVID-19 will impact volleyball significantly. While practices and scrimmages may be held indoors, matches against teams from other schools will be held outdoors.

Harwood’s girls volleyball team participates in Division I, the only division at the high school level for a sport that’s still growing in Vermont. Harwood has not had enough interest yet to field a boys volleyball team.

Katie Martin is the JV and middle school field hockey coach at Harwood Union High School and a member of the Waterbury Select Board.

Harwood Union Fall Sports Preview