HAWKS TAKE FLIGHT Even amidst changes due to the pandemic, Prairie’s Upper School athletic teams have seen much success in the 2020-21 school year — By Rachel Shuster
When fall rolled around, schools across the state were still figuring out how they would hold classes, let alone athletic practices and competitions. Many districts, including those neighboring Wind Point, chose to either defer or cancel athletic seasons. But not Prairie. Even amidst uncertainty, the Hawks took off — and they haven’t been grounded since. Both the fall and winter saw a packed slate of Upper School sports, and our athletes took full advantage of that opportunity. The Boys’ Soccer team clinched yet another Division 4 State Championship title. Boys’ and Girls’ Cross Country each sent runners to the state meet. Girls’ Golf finished out a stellar season as the Division 2 state runner-up, followed by the Boys’ Basketball team’s historic run to their own runner-up finish in the Division 4 state tournament. Since the pandemic, the Athletic Department has shifted many policies to ensure conditions are safe for student-athletes to train and compete, including limitations on spectator attendance and scheduled Fitness Center access. But faculty still want to make 18 | prairieschool.com
sure that students who want to work out, get better, and stay healthy, get a chance to do just that. “When I think about my entire time in this department, I’m most proud of giving our students the opportunity to compete this year,” says TPS Athletic Director Jason Atanasoff. “We are far more fortunate than plenty of schools around the state who have not been able to compete at all. We got through fall and winter sports with little to no incidents, just a few hiccups along the way. We’re looking for more of the same in the spring.” “The opportunity for these kids to get to be around their peers and play — some little semblance of normalcy during this crazy year — I’m super proud that Prairie, our administration, and our Athletics team have been able to make that happen.”
