BaCk in the game

athletics answers the Call

By George Nessman, Athletic Director As the impact of the pandemic began to crystalize, the Justin-Siena athletics program saw it as our obligation to demonstrate important qualities that serve athletes and teams. Further, in the face of turmoil and unrest not seen for many decades, we are called to provide a template for our students to assist in their responses to these new realities. Reflecting persistence in the face of adversity when crossing the Alps, Hannibal responds, “We will either find a way, or make one.” The ability to adjust, adapt, and overcome when facing difficult circumstances became the most relevant operating principle. There is little doubt that positive, team-centered social interaction, physical development, and basic movement are some of the many personal rewards of participating in sports. Determining how we could continue to provide these benefits in some form to our student-athletes in the safest way possible and within established health best practices guided our thinking and decision-making. It was and remains important for our students to get up and keep moving! Our coaches and athletics staff have taken these challenges on with determination. Justin-Siena was the first local high school to transition students into strength and conditioning programs this summer and these have continued into the fall semester. We are staying ahead of the curve.

hoW We goT here

MarCH: In-person school suspended (virtual classes only) and VVAL decides to postpone all play until April 1. april: NCS/CIF ends Spring Seasons. Empty bleachers and no cheering. May: Athletic Directors George Nessman, Andrew Bettencourt ’02, and Athletic Trainer Sarah Goble, create a policy for athletics to safely return. The plan was developed consulting national and local guidelines, NFHS and CIF COVID recommendations, as well as working with our local public health officer.

The CIF calendar which squeezes three seasons into a tight timeframe will create its own set of barriers to navigate. First, what steps can we take to ensure that if high school athletics can proceed, JustinSiena will be an active and thriving participant? Secondly, our multi-sport athletes face the situation in which their favorite sports may now overlap significantly or run concurrently. This calls for intra-coach cooperation and communication at new levels, and we are seeing that very thing. Finally, we all need to accept and adopt the notion that different doesn’t mean bad or worse – it’s your perspective and frame of reference that shapes your experience. The Justin-Siena athletics program is up for what awaits.

June: Our Return to Sport Plan was approved by Napa County Public Health Officer, Dr. Relucio, and five sports begin workouts in cohorts of 8—becoming

the first school in the vval and county to do so.

auGust: Fall workouts begin, making Justin-Siena again, the first school

to hold on-campus athletic practices, in cohorts of 14. septeMBer:

Hybrid learning begins. oCtoBer: V/JV/FR baseball, girls V/JV basketball, boys V/JV/FR basketball, V/JV football, V softball, V track, V/ JV volleyball and boys V water polo are all working out in stable cohorts of up to 14.

david Granucci, Basketball

“our administration has done an unbelievable job in providing a safe plan for our students and teams to return to practice. as coaches we have had to get creative with how we execute our workouts, manage a longer off- season, and handle multi-sport athletes. it’s been great to see how resilient our athletes have been while they are to getting better, stronger, and more together. it is awesome to have so many of our athletes committed to working hard, and all of the coaches meeting that committment by working together to make this a special experience.”

Brandon larocco ’98, football

“We all have experienced a shift in mentality. instead of ‘having to go to practice,’ we now are ‘getting to go to practice.’ the players embrace being able to run and lift weights in a way that i have not seen in a long time. there is great enthusiasm and energy at practice, even though we still aren’t allowed to use an actual football. i couldn’t be prouder of how our kids have prepared themselves for an uncertain future, never questioning what we asked them to do. they are just showing up and working. as a coach, you can’t ask for much more than that.”

Kate reilley, volleyball

“We have an entirely new coaching staff who bring incredible playing and coaching experience to the program, and have already provided an added ‘spark’ to our workouts. the preseason has been a challenge – not only do we have the largest number of players we’ve seen in years trying out, but we are also limited both by group sizes and what we can do. needless to say, we’ve had to get creative! this has given the program the added benefit to focus more on agility, strength, and conditioning. i am impressed by the hard work and dedication the players have shown.”

andy Bettencourt ’02, Basketball

“after realizing that sports would no longer be played in the spring nor for the foreseeable future, we got to work. With the help of many and the support of our school leadership, we set our course to implement a safe return-to-practice strategy. it is gratifying to see the effort the coaches are extending daily. Watching them constantly adapt and evolve their programs to meet the moment has been heartening. our athletes are developing their skills, getting stronger, and are so happy to be working out with the hope that we’ll be back playing sports soon. We are working hard behind the scenes to be leaders in the Bay area, and helping our athletes prepare. i consider myself lucky to be associated with the incredible people who lead our sports programs.”

Jeremy tayson, Baseball

“Coaches are used to planning and preparing and now we are simply channeling those traits in a different manner. together, we have coached hundreds of small cohort practices since June; practices that require facility and practice planning, screening, cleaning, collaboration, and more. it is so worth it though as we all feel immensely proud of a school and program that says it is, ‘about the kids,’ and then delivering on that in such a sound fashion.”

we will. earn it.

“Working out at Justin-Siena over the summer has been refreshing. Being able to get back into the swing of things has been one of the best feelings all year. It is a competitive environment which is a formula for success, and I hope we can bring that energy when we get the chance.”

DANIEL KELLY ’21