D u r i n g times of un-c e r t a i n t y , silver linings can be tough to come by. With each passing day, high school student-ath-letes remain

hopeful that a return to normalcy isn’t far off, burn-ing through workout reps to maintain game shape for their sport of choice – all while hoping that the end of their respective seasons hasn’t already taken place.

All UIL-sanctioned activi-ties are currently suspended and high schools around the state are closed until that same date. Campus facilities and practice fi elds are off limits and gyms are closed for the time being, and social dis-tancing and county-wide stay-at-home orders have practi-cally quarantined the masses around the clock.

The COVID-19 pandemic has dealt student-athletes a hand that has left them with-out much of the structure they’ve known for years – be it attending practices, grinding away alongside teammates in workouts and competing in games, all within the same schedule every week.

As coaches and athletes acclimate to the change brought upon by the coronavi-rus saga, they’re stressing the positives to keep spirits high within their programs. But

just as players hope they’ll be able to return to the playing fi eld before the end of the school year, the time away from normalcy offers unique chances at growth both physically and mental-ly.

“The biggest thing is that they learn to practice ownership and being responsi-ble for themselves instead of leaving it up to someone else to tell them what to do or where to go,” said Geno Pierce, Perfor-mance Course CEO and founder.

Without the usual in-season regiment of games and practices, accountability has tak-en on greater prominence as athletes look to stay in game shape without the traditional outlets of gyms and weight rooms available for the time being. Programs have tried to cope with the change by embracing methods like vid-eoconferencing – something that has already gained trac-tion for holding workouts and team meetings – but with-out a set-in-stone routine, athletes are having to take it upon themselves to stay active during the time away from action.

“There are a lot of ways where physical activity and exercise can be benefi cial,” said Josh Adams, perfor-mance manager at Children’s

Health Andrews Institute Sports Performance powered by EXOS, “and I think as our kids enter more of an on-line-based school platform, physical activity is going to be really important as far as keeping them attentive

and engaged in those l e s s o n p l a n s

because there isn’t someone there in front of them on a day-to-day basis that’s holding them accountable.”

With gyms closed, in-home workouts have taken on add-ed importance for athletes. One thing Adams noted that

can help in building l o n g -standing exercise h a b i t s

w h i l e q u a r a n -

tined is

athletes taking it upon them-selves to re-store that sense

of structure on their own.“I think the big

thing that athletes are going to start realizing is how im-

portant having an es-tablished routine and

schedule is for those indi-viduals to keep them consis-tent and from burning out,” Adams said. “Wake up at the same time, eat breakfast at the same time, exercise at the same time.”

It’s also a chance, Pierce noted, for athletes to develop leadership qualities in a way that might not normally come

about in school.“I’ve seen kids running

around in the street and be-ing outside exercising. Things like that can create a situ-ation where kids can start being accountable of one another and exhibiting those leadership qualities that get lost in the wild structure we have,” Pierce said. “I think it’s cool seeing kids step up and lead other kids through these Zoom meetings or through workouts.”

Fortunately, technology and social media have given athletes no shortage of out-lets for staying active. Adams said that Children’s Health Andrews Institute Sports Per-formance powered by EXOS has an Instagram account (@ChildrensHealth_Athlete) that features a plethora of in-home workouts, while Pierce’s Performance Course recently launched the Elite Training Academy, an online integration of its training pro-gram – something that has already been picked up by 10 different states and nearly 50 high schools throughout Texas.

Adams said that individu-als should target 60 minutes of daily activity to maintain individual performance and fi tness levels.

As student-athletes stay active in hopes that their re-spective sports resume in due time, getting away from game action also affords some time for recovery – something

that’s tougher to come by in today’s preparatory sports climate.

“This is giving youth ath-letes time away from their sport both mentally and phys-ically for some rejuvenation,” Adams said. “In high school sports, there isn’t a signifi -cant offseason period espe-cially with the high school circuit combining with a competitive club circuit. This is providing that window that our athletes often need both physically and mentally to get a break.”

The onus falls on the ath-letes to make the most of the unique opportunities afford-ed during the pandemic – something that could help in the long run even beyond the playing fi eld.

“I think from this, the big positive is that you’ll see kids start to mature and take own-ership in what they’re doing,” Pierce said.

MATT WELCHmwelch@starlocalmedia.com

The Lovejoy boys and girls basketball teams both qual-ifi ed for the postseason af-ter cracking the top four in District 10-5A – respectively placing third and fourth in the conference.

Several of the student-ath-letes responsible for those playoff-bound campaigns were recently recognized among the league’s top per-formers on the 10-5A all-dis-trict team.

Both the Leopards and Lady Leopards raked in one superlative apiece, including an Offensive MVP nod for junior Carson Holden. The 6-foot-6 guard led the Love-joy boys in scoring during the 2019-20 season and was a model of consistency during district play with double-dig-it point totals in nine of 10 games.

Averaging 17.5 points per game over the Leopards’ fi nal 11 games of the season, Hold-en came on strong late in the year as well with 21.2 points logged during the second half of district play – followed by a team-best 15 points in the team’s bi-district loss to Fris-co Independence.

Meanwhile, Lovejoy fresh-man Samantha Basson’s var-sity debut was commended with 10-5A’s Newcomer of the Year award on the girls’ all-district list. Despite her youth, Basson carved out big minutes in head coach Lance Boxell’s backcourt – fi nishing second on the team in points (8.3) and assists (2.7) – and showcased as much by lead-ing the Lady Leopards in scoring over their fi nal two games of the season against McKinney North (20 points) and Class 5A state champion

Frisco Liberty (12 points).On most nights, however,

that scoring onus fell on se-nior Carsen McFadden, who rose to the challenges and turned in one of the more balanced years of any play-er in the district – earning fi rst-team honors behind a team-best 13.6 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 4.0 steals for Lovejoy.

McFadden was joined on the fi rst team by senior Ad-dison Hand, who bolstered the Lady Leopards’ presence inside with 8.3 points and 8.6 rebounds, plus a team-best 1.7 blocks per game.

Meanwhile, senior Jared Langs earned a fi rst-team spot of his own after submit-ting a dynamic scoring cam-paign for the Leopards. That included a 38-point effort in Lovejoy’s district win over

Denison as Langs landed at 13.2 points scored over the Leopards’ fi nal 11 ballgames.

Senior Grace Bennett and junior Julia Brochu earned spots on the 10-5A second team, as did senior Kolby Mc-Spadden and junior Mitchell Weaver. Brochu led the Lady Leopards in made 3-point-ers with 61, chipping in for a balanced starting lineup that included 8.1 points scored by Bennett.

McSpadden facilitated out of the backcourt for the Leop-ards during his fi nal varsity campaign, closing out his ca-reer with an eight-point effort against Independence, while Weaver fl ashed moments of brilliance throughout his junior season – including a 21-point night against Sher-man.

The Bearcats, along with the rest of 10-5A, enjoyed some superlative nods of their own as part of a parity-driven conference schedule. On the boys side, Princeton senior Tre McGrue was named MVP after leading the Panthers to a district championship, while Wylie East senior Jose Melendez split Offensive MVP honors with Lovejoy’s Holden.

That award was one of three shared within the league, as McKinney North se-nior Chase Antosca and East senior Ross Joseph earned co-Defensive MVP, and Sher-man sophomore Kasai Burton and Princeton senior Ant-wone Owens split Newcomer of the Year.

The girls’ superlatives all had outright recipients, with East junior Akasha Da-vis named MVP, North junior Amaria Fields taking Offen-sive MVP and Dension senior Taryn Gaines nabbing Defen-sive MVP alongside Basson’s Newcomer accolade.

SUSPENSION OFFERS STUDENTS OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH

Lovejoy boys, girls rake in all-district honors

PHOTO COURTESY OF TXACTIONPHOTO.COM

Lovejoy senior Carsen McSpad-den earned fi rst-team honors after a strong year in District 10-5A.

All UIL-sanctioned activities, including high school sports, are currently suspended indefi nitely.

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just as players hope they’ll be able to return to the playing fi eld before the end of the school year, the time away from normalcy offers unique chances at growth both physically and mental-

“The biggest thing is that they

ble for themselves instead of leaving it up to someone else to tell them what to do or where to go,” said Geno Pierce, Perfor-mance Course CEO and

Without the usual in-season regiment of games and practices, accountability has tak-en on greater prominence as athletes look to stay in game shape without the traditional outlets of gyms and weight rooms available for the time being. Programs have tried to cope with the change by embracing methods like vid-eoconferencing – something that has already gained trac-tion for holding workouts and team meetings – but with-out a set-in-stone routine, athletes are having to take it upon themselves to stay

Health Andrews Institute Sports Performance powered by EXOS, “and I think as our kids enter more of an on-line-based school platform, physical activity is going to be really important as far as keeping them attentive

and engaged in those l e s s o n p l a n s

because there isn’t someone there in

can help in building l o n g -standing exercise h a b i t s

w h i l e q u a r a n -

tined is

athletes taking it upon them-selves to re-store that sense

of structure on their own.“I think the big

thing that athletes are going to start realizing is how im-

portant having an es-tablished routine and

schedule is for those indi-viduals to keep them consis-tent and from burning out,” Adams said. “Wake up at the same time, eat breakfast at

about in school.

around in the street and be-ing outside exercising. Things like that can create a situ-ation where kids can start being accountable of one another and exhibiting those leadership qualities that get lost in the wild structure we have,” Pierce said. “I think it’s cool seeing kids step up and lead other kids through these Zoom meetings or through workouts.”

and social media have given athletes no shortage of out-lets for staying active. Adams said that Children’s Health Andrews Institute Sports Per-formance powered by EXOS has an Instagram account (@ChildrensHealth_Athlete) that features a plethora of in-home workouts, while Pierce’s Performance Course recently launched the Elite Training Academy, an online integration of its training pro-gram – something that has already been picked up by 10 different states and nearly 50 high schools throughout Texas.

als should target 60 minutes of daily activity to maintain individual performance and fi tness levels.

MATTWELCHmwelch@star localmedia.com

PHOTO COUR-

TESY OF CHIL-

DREN’S HEALTH

ANDREWS INSTITUTE SPORTS

PERFORMANCE POW-ERED BY EXOS

Youth athletes are having to fi nd

different ways to stay active during the

COVID-19 pandemic, something that can breed different av-

enues for growth both physically

and mentally.