Recap Of Winter Sports Week 2021 By: Josie Mason

Like many other activities, Winter Sports Week has looked a lot different this year than it previously has. This came as no surprise to athletes, students, and community members, but everyone has stayed positive through it all. The community is striving to do everything that they can safely even though we are limited as to what activities and events we can and can’t hold. 

This year’s pepfest was virtual, but it still included what you might see at the pepfest in a regular year. Team captains of all sports and activities were included in answering questions about their team, when their next game or meet is and how to watch it, and also how they felt their activity was different with COVID restrictions. These captains participated in games just as the team would in previous years. We got to see the Boys’ Swimming and Diving captains as well as the Robotics captain compete in who could spin around in a hoola-hoop and jump rope ten times the fastest. The boys and girls basketball teams went head to head in a game of lightning. Last but not least, the cheerleading captains were blindfolded and the speech captains had to help them paint a picture of a horse. The pepfest video also included clips of Mr. Wood and Mr. McDonald face off in a juggling contest as well as Mr. Harnet playing some tunes on his bass guitar. Overall, even though the pepfest was not the same as it used to be, the school is still looking at the positives and was able to put together a very entertaining video for the community to see. 

Included in the pepfest video was a virtual crowning of the Winter Sports Week royalty. Nominees included Jack Maxwell, Mitchell Nemec, Joe Talmage, Ashton Hielscher, Bryant Koenig, Ella Bahr, Kaitlyn Hostetter, Emma Erickson, Anna Windels, and Chloe Sullivan. The candidates all had the privilege to take part in the crowning as normal, the only difference being a crowd not being present. The girls all received crowns, and the boys all received black hats that either had “FHS” or “King” printed on them. During the crowning, Bill Mason crowned Mitchell Nemec as Winter Sports Week king, who then crowned the queen, Emma Erickson. Congratulations to these two seniors and thank you to Mrs. Line, Minnesota Honor Society Advisor, for providing the hats and crowns as well as bringing back Winter Sports Week Royalty.

Another concept that was different this year were the dress-up days for Winter Sports Week. With FHS doing the hybrid learning curriculum, not all students were able to participate in the fun dress-up days if they were not attending school. Monday and Tuesday students were able to wear flannel shirts for Monday and dress as a “tacky tourist” for Tuesday. Kids that go to school on Thursday and Friday participated in “Disney Day” on Thursday and “Jersey Day” on Friday. Students that are distance learners were sadly not able to participate unless they wanted to dress-up over zoom, which is still a great option! It is unfortunate that not all students were able to show their classmates their awesome outfits in person but we are so thankful to be able to have school in session for hybrid learning and to still include some aspects of the Winter Sports Week activities. 

The sports teams all had at least one game during Winter Sports week. The boys’ hockey team traveled to Silver Bay and lost in overtime with a score of 6-5. Their Thursday game against Lake of the Woods was cancelled. The girls’ hockey team had a game on Saturday against Long-Prairie-Grey-Eagle/Wadena Deer Creek and lost 3-1. The boys’ basketball team had a home game against North Woods on Tuesday and lost 78-68. They also had a game in Cherry and lost 68-62 on Friday. The girls’ basketball team won on Monday against Bigfork with a score of 64-46 but their Thursday game against LBF was cancelled. The boys’ swimming team had a meet in Mesabi East and lost. The Knowledge Bowl team has not yet had any meets but are working hard with practice.

Winter Sports Week was definitely not the same as it normally would be, but there is not too much that is normal this year. Students were not able to attend and participate in the pepfest that usually includes games and challenges, interviews with entire sports teams, and a routine performed by the cheerleaders, but hopefully we will get all of this back as soon as possible. The only sports game that was played at home this year was the boys’ basketball game on Tuesday, but the rest of the teams traveled for their games. The team lacked a home crowd cheering them on. Spirit days to dress up were also quite different. This year has been very unfamiliar and challenging, but Falls High School is making sure that students get a great experience as safely as possible so that they can continue to learn in person. Although Winter Sports week seemed much different, we are so grateful to be able to play sports and attend school face-to-face. It’s important to stay positive during these times and see the good.