How Cheerleaders and Band Members Adjusted in a Pandemic
The uncertainty surrounding high school football in 2020 peaked in July and August, ultimately resulting in a two-week delay to all season openers. As the year progressed, COVID-19 protocols such as sanitizing locker and weight rooms and consistently wearing masks on the sideline helped nudge Georgia’s beloved sport in the right direction. Now, just under a month after eight teams hoisted their respective state championship trophies, it almost seems unbelievable that 16 weeks went by without a large hitch. However, these weeks do not exclusively belong to football. Recently, I interviewed a couple of the lesser-known Friday night stars, band members and cheerleaders, on the coronavirus’s impact on their seasons.
Q: “As the leader of the band, what were some challenges you faced this year that didn’t exist in years past?”
Josh Murzello, North Gwinnett Drum Major: “As the drum major, one of our biggest struggles was ensuring everyone was wearing a mask and was socially distanced. First of all, it is nearly impossible to play an instrument with a mask on, let alone to have more than a hundred members socially distance among ourselves in cramped stands. Our band directors, section leaders, and most of all band parents did an absolutely incredible job to create instrument coverings, ensure social distancing, and providing sanitizing stations at all times to make sure we still got to enjoy those Friday nights supporting a phenomenal football program. Go, Dawgs!”
Q: “In cheer, there tends to be a lot of close contact. During practices, what measures did your squad take to stay safe?”
Keaton Turcotte, Cherokee Cheerleading Captain: “Before practices started, temperatures were taken, and each girl was required to answer a set of questions. While masks were not mandatory, many of our girls decided to wear them. When practicing cheers, we are already spread fingertips apart to prevent collision. These ‘windows’ really helped with social distancing. Painting banners got a little tricky, but we did rotations to make sure everyone wasn’t on top of each other.”
Q: “This year, Lowndes’s band had over 400 members and naturally that led to a quarantine as many students got the virus. What was changed after this quarantine period to ensure that it would be safe going forward?”
Ty Kenney, Lowndes Baritone Section Member: “So for one, once the band got quarantined, everyone was freaking out and were worried because being quarantined isn’t a fun time. And I do not think it was fun for the director as well. As soon as we came back, we were 100 times safer. Social distancing was implemented more, and masks were suggested heavier than before. Mr. Bowman, the director, was as careful as he could possibly be.”
This season was one unlike any other, both for football players and their Friday night counterparts. The word “miraculous” does not even come remotely close to describing the rollercoaster that schools and programs went through. In the end, through all the quarantines and cancellations, all that remains is being thankful for what we have been given.
Written by: Dhruv Mohan
