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20 Carlisle family experiences NBA Bubble
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Back to the field
Fall sports start back up with social distancing, extra precautions
by Katherine Grace Estess Assistant News Editor
Athletic Director From the beginning, Surgi Deb Surgi reported and the coaching staff had in an Aug. 21 email planned to schedule games that the Southern with neighboring schools as Preparatory conditions improved. Conference had canceled its “We’re still looking forward fall 2020 season in the light of to competing in small meets COVID risks. Now, with athletes between SPC schools once we returning to campus, possibilities get back on campus,” sophomore for competition are opening up. and cross country runner Leena
“I am pleased to share with Mehendale said. you the great news that, following As for the plans regarding the thoughtful planning conversations return to sports, athletes looked with Athletic Directors from forward to their return and are the Southwest Preparatory ready and willing to comply with Conference, Hockaday’s fall the changes. Crew, who usually athletic teams will return to row in boats of two or four an adjusted Upper School people, now stay in single-person competition schedule,” Surgi wrote photo by Katherine Grace Estess boats during practice to comply in an Oct. 2 email. Field Hockey returned to practice Sept. 21 while following health guidelines. with distancing regulations. She explained all safety protocols will remain in place as teams compete against area schools including Trinity Valley, Greenhill and Fort Worth Country Day. The SPC cancellation means there will be no tournaments to compete in at the end of the fall season. Fall sports usually train all season leading up the competition between schools all over the state and Oklahoma. With the need for COVID-19 restrictions, the SPC board found it in the best interest of the athletes to cancel the season. “I will miss not only the competition aspect of SPC but also the team bonding that comes along with it,” senior and varsity field hockey player Claire Tate said, “and the time that I would’ve gotten to spend with my teammates and coaches for my last year.” Following the cancellation announcement, the athletics department began planning for an adjusted fall season. On Sept. 9, distance practices began for all teams. Coaches hosted team meetings for an hour over Zoom every Monday through Thursday. “Zoom practice has been going good,’ Tate said. “Even though we aren’t in person I am glad that the coaches could come up with a way for the team to interact and bond while also finding ways to improve our skills with live stick work activities.” On-campus practice started Sept. 21 for all fall teams, including field hockey, cross country, fencing, volleyball and crew. All fall sports wear masks during practice and follow other regulations specific to each sport. “This season will probably be focused on land training and erging, since it is much easier to socially distance these types of practices,” sophomore Lucy Roberts said. Despite the irregular season, athletes and coaches are excited to work together and perform no matter the circumstances. “I am excited to see what is to come for this season,” Tate said, “and to see what the coaches and captains have planned regarding our circumstances.”
New school, new challenge Geier brings experience, enthusiasm to role of head athletic trainer
by Caroline Petrikas Staff Writer
An interest in sport medicine drew Jeff Geier, Hockaday’s New Director of Sports Performance and Medicine, to athletic training, but his passion for athletics and helping athletes made him stay.
“My favorite part [of training] is seeing the excitement that athletics can bring to the student-athletes,” Geier said.
Following Head Athletic Trainer Jeanne Olsen’s retirement at the end of the 2019-2020 school year, the athletic department hired Geier. He comes to Hockaday after 14 years at Episcopal School of Dallas.
“It was time to take on a new challenge,” Geier said. “I’m excited to meet the students, start sports and get familiar with the department.”
Geier’s journey as a trainer began when he was certified 25 years ago at Texas Christian University where he received his Bachelor’s of Science in Fitness Promotion with a minor in Athletic Training. After graduating, he worked at Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, Neb. Then, in 2006, he transferred to the Episcopal School of Dallas where he served as the Head Athletic Director.
Jeff Geier Head Athletic Trainer
Student athletes said they are excited about working with a new trainer and the new prospects that come with it.
“I’m definitely going to miss Coach Olsen, but I think it’ll definitely be good to have a new start, too,” Junior Student Trainer Emily Estes said. “Hopefully he can help us get more involved during the games and in general.”
Senior and Cross country captain Inez Johnson said she hopes Geier can continue to build on Olsen’s legacy.
“Coach Olsen set a strong foundation for the training department and hopefully as a new
Geier sits on one of the tables in the training room, prepared to help students.
face Geier can build upon that and improve the department,” Johnson said. “I think it will strengthen the relationship between cross country and the trainer because being a good athlete doesn’t only mean training hard, it means recovering hard, too.”
Sophomore Ambyr Baker said she was excited to see what Geier has to offer.
“I hope he has more specific care for each athlete and is available for players participating in their sport both in and out of school,” Baker said.
photo by Graydon Paul
Geier said the opportunity to add strength and conditioning oversight to his job description was appealing, but he has always found it satisfying to help athletes overcome injuries.
“Challenges that may arise with an injury or rehab or things like that really interest me and make me think,” Geier said, “and make me find the pieces of puzzle to make it all line up and get the athlete back on the field.”
one TO WATCH
VICTORIA LI '23
photo provided by Victoria Li
Learn 4 quick facts about an All American Fencer
by Libby Hill Photo and Graphic Editor
1Victoria Li ‘23 earned a spot on the 2019-2020 All American 2nd Fencing Team
2Victoria competes in saber fencing, one of the three main fencing disciplines.
3Victoria is a member of the Hockaday Fencing Team, as well as Kairos Fencing
Academy in Plano.
Victoria says fencing 4 "is like a mental game of chess. It is simple but sophisticated. It also takes an unimaginable amount of patience and discipline on and off the strip."
photo provided by Victoria Li
Li shows her competitive form in a fencing match with Team USA. She also fences for the Hockaday team.
Dominating summer Student athletes sharpen skills in COVID season
by Kate Clark Managing Editor
Avery Jackson - Beach Volleyball
photo provided by Avery Jackson Jackson competes at Championships.
For three days in July, freshman Avery Jackson and her partner played 11 beach volleyball games— and won them all.
Jackson and her partner Kenzie Miller won gold in the National Beach Volleyball Tour Junior Championships in Huntsville, Ala. “The first two days of the tournament it was just exciting because we had not been able to travel due to COVID,” Jackson said. “The last day was nerve-racking because there was pressure to do well because we had come all that way.”
At nationals, both Jackson and Miller’s coaches came to support and coach the girls to victory.
“I met Kenzie at a tournament in Austin,” Jackson said. “She just asked to play, and we worked really well together,” Jackson said.
Although Jackson has played volleyball for eight years, she has only played beach volleyball for three.
“I love the strategic part of beach volleyball because it is only two people covering the whole court,” Jackson said. “I like knowing what the other side is going to do before they even do it.”
Jaden Thomas - Soccer
photo provided by Jaden Thomas Thomas, right, ranks third in her class.
Although this summer lacked the usual soccer tournaments and games freshman Jaden Thomas usually attends, she got news in June that added excitement to her summer. Thomas found out she was ranked the third best overall U.S. soccer player for the class of 2024, and first as a forward.
“My parents brought all of us into my room,” Thomas said. “And they said ‘Guess what? You are ranked No. 3 in the country.’ My mouth dropped, and I was speechless.”
U.S. National Team scouts and coaches throughout the country are polled to provide player ranking recommendations.
“At first I was shocked. I did not expect to get ranked that high,” Thomas said. “For two days, I just could not believe it. I was like ‘Are you kidding?’ I was really happy and shocked.”
Thomas currently plays for her club team FC Dallas. Throughout the summer, she practiced with her team, worked on skills, worked out with her sister and had a few scrimmages within her club. Now in high school, this will be the first year that Thomas’ league will allow her to play at on the school team.
“I am so excited about playing Hockaday soccer with my classmates,” Thomas said, “and the upperclassmen, too.”
Lauren Roach - Lacrosse
photo provided by Lauren Roach Roach, right, at Under Armour 150.
Lacrosse midfielder and draw specialist sophomore Lauren Roach was selected for both Under Armor 150 and Under Armor All-American Lacrosse Classic.
She was one of 150 players in her age group selected for Under Armor 150, and one of 22 players from the Southwest for the All-American Lacrosse Classic.
“I love playing at such a next level where everyone is the best,” Roach said. “It’s like a new type of game.”
After the All-American Lacrosse Classic, Roach was selected for the All-Tournament Team, an MVP-type list of the best eight players at the tournament.
“I was at the airport about to fly back. We were walking to our terminal and an older player stopped me to say congratulations,” Roach said. “I was like ‘What are you talking about?’ She said “Oh, you made the AllTournament Team!’”
These two tournaments were the only ones Roach was able to attend.
“The showcases were everyone’s big outlet into recruiting because it was the only time you were able to show yourself to coaches this summer,” Roach said. “It made it a lot more exciting to finally be able to play again.”
Lily Fu - Fencing
photo provided by Lily Fu Fu fences on the All-Academic team.
Junior Lily Fu is an avid fencer, both at Hockaday and on her club team. For her commitment to the sport and her grades led her to earn the title of Absolute Fencing Gear AllAcademic First Team this summer.
USA Fencing and Absolute Fencing Gear partnered to recognize and name young fencers who have excelled in high school with All-Academic Team honors. Fu earned the title of ‘First Team’ because she falls in the highest GPA category.
“I wouldn’t have gotten the award without the help and support of my coaches and teachers, so I am thankful for them and very glad to be selected,” Fu said.
Fu is going into her fourth year of fencing. She competes not only with Hockaday’s fencing team but also with her club, the International Fencers Alliance of Dallas (IFAD).
Although this summer looked different than the past, she was still able to have club practices.
“We would practice our footwork and handling the blade while trying to social distance,” Fu said.
But Fu said her skill with fencing comes from her mind.
“Fencing is mental,” Fu said. “It is about picking up on your opponent’s patterns and trying to figure out some plan or strategy while you are fencing.”
Annie Herring - Crew
photo provided by Annie Herring Herring, left, qualified for Nationals.
Rowing in Oklahoma City, training in Albuquerque and winning regionals in Dallas, Annie Herring did not let COVID-19 halt her crew practice.
“I honestly think I am in better shape [than before the pandemic],” Herring said. “I have not been erging a ton, but I feel like I am fitter. Having more time to train has been really helpful.”
Herring competed in a Virtual Erg competition in the spring. She won regionals, qualifying her for nationals. However, she did not participate in the national competition.
From June 30 to July 12, Herring drove to Oklahoma City for a twoweek rowing training camp at the Oklahoma City High-Performance Center. She lived at a Homestay in Edmond with three other girls in the program.
“It was mostly college rowers,” Herring said. “It was very fun to train with them.”
After Oklahoma, Herring drove to Albuquerque, where she stayed with her grandma and trained daily. She began the day with a six-mile run, moved into workout circuits created by Elia Stanfield, head strength and conditioning coach, and ended the day with a bike ride through the mountains.
“My grandma’s house is in the perfect location for training,” Herring said. “She lives half a mile from a large park and, a quarter of a mile further, there is a paved trail along the river that runs 25 miles.”
Entering her second Hockaday season, Herring has a positive outlook going into the fall.
“Even if we aren’t competing, it’s fun to row fast,” Herring said. “That is a huge motivator, just to be fast for your teammates.”
The Arena, right, on the NBA Campus at Disney houses 2 practice courts and a broadcast court. One of the broadcast courts, below, is full of empty seats during and after games due to COVID-19 guidelines
Living in the Bubble
photos provided by Abby Carlisle
Carlisle family separated during NBA season
by Kate Clark Managing Editor
For 58 days, sophomore Abby Carlisle’s dad, Rick Carlisle, the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, lived in the NBA Bubble.
The Bubble, at Walt Disney World in Orlando, was the isolation area created for NBA teams to finish their 2019-2020 season while staying safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“My mother and I have always been used to him traveling, but he is typically only absent for a few days,” Abby said. “It was definitely a shift and we missed him a lot, but we mainly operated for 58 days just like he was out of town during the regular season.”
Upon Rick’s arrival to the Bubble, he was sent to his room for 48 hours alone to quarantine. After quarantining, everyone was tested for COVID-19 before they could to continue their stay in the Bubble.
“We were tested every day and we had to keep getting negative tests to stay,” Rick said. “There was also an app where we would enter our temperature and pulse and fill out a questionnaire asking us how we were feeling.”
For the duration of their time in the Bubble, there were zero positive tests.
Rick said being away from his family for so long was the most difficult process of his experience in the Bubble.
“I missed my family so much,” he said. “It’s hard being away from your wife and daughter for so long,”
Since being away from family was affecting the coaches and players’ mental health, the inhabitants of the Bubble had the option of speaking to a mental health specialist.
Abby and her mother could not visit the Bubble because the tournament restricted visitors to only families of the athletes. If those families wanted to visit, they would have to quarantine for two
Abby attends a Maverick’s game with her father last season.
weeks in a hotel room before seeing the specified athlete or anyone else living in the Bubble.
The Carlisles used different platforms to communicate so Rick could tell his family about his work in the Bubble.
“He said he pretty much lived at his job,” Abby said. “While his job always played a major role in his life, his day to day life in the Bubble completely revolved around it a lot more than it did when he was home.”
Along with family members, fans could not be at the games in person. The NBA used Microsoft Teams’ new Together Mode to put basketball fans in the stands with a virtual live feed of the game.
“The fans play a major role in basketball,” Abby said. “Going from being in your home court with a stadium full of fans, to an empty court with fans on screens, makes a huge difference in the sense of community that basketball brings to not just the fans, but the players and coaches too.”
However, the experience still allowed fans to feel like they were
Rick Carlisle Dallas Mavericks Head Coach
sitting courtside and were cheering for their team. Regardless, this method was still very different from having the playoffs at the teams’ home courts.
“It was a very neutral environment because it took away the home court advantage,” Rick said.
After the Mavericks lost in the first round of the playoffs, Rick returned home the next day.
“We were very excited to see him,” Abby said. “And it only took a day for things to go back to normal like they were before he left!”
Canceling SPC season was right decision
The recent cancellation of the fall SPC season devastated athletes and fans alike. With athletics as one of our cornerstones, our community would not feel complete without them. The news was incredibly hard for our seniors, who are missing out on their final SPC championships. However, canceling the official SPC season was necessary to continue any sports this fall.
It would have been nearly impossible for SPC to continue as planned while following COVID-19 pandemic guidelines. As each zone, and the schools within them, faced unique circumstances, it would have been impossible to keep a regular season. Canceling the SPC season and championships will allow schools to work their sports around their schedules and region guidelines.
Through our athletic department and coaching staff’s hard work, all the fall sports have their own “mini” seasons scheduled. We will compete against local schools, such as ESD and Greenhill. Hockaday even has plans to live stream games so fans can enjoy games while safely at home. Also, this situation is ever-evolving. As restrictions loosen, we will be able to do even more. I hope we can eventually have live games or meets with socially distanced fans. As anyone who went to last year’s winter SPC games knows, an enthusiastic student section makes any game better.
For both athletes and fans, sports are a welcome outlet to our stressful lives. Teams become like families, and games allow students to express that competitive Hockaday nature.
So, this season we might have to miss out on travel games and famed trips to Buc-ee’s, but canceling SPC was the right decision.
