Fall sports at Patagonia Union High School have seen cancellations and loss of players due to the ongoing pandemic. Both soccer and volleyball have been affected.
The soccer season was cut short, with all remaining games cancelled, when several of the players had to be quarantined after two students tested positive for the virus in mid-October.
The team, which had played six or seven games up to that point, had to cancel their remaining six games, according to athletic director Nate Porter because “we did not have enough athletes to continue to play the rest of the season.
“This was by far the most successful soccer season we have ever had,” he added. The highlight of the shortened season was the upset by the Lobos over Benson High School for the first time. The team’s 2020 record was 2-3-1.
The volleyball team is still playing. Because of the size of the school there is only one team, which plays both JV and Varsity. The varsity record is 0 -6, while the JV record is 0-3.
“It is a very young team,” Porter said. The absence of senior players due to quarantining also hurt the squad.
Boys and girls basketball is still scheduled to begin practicing Nov. 9, with the first games set for Dec. 1. At this time, fans are not allowed in the gym to watch the games.
“Sports in the time of COVID is a struggle,” Porter said, but the school will continue to keep the sports programs going, even though PUHS has decided to continue distance learning for the immediate future.
“We’re trying to offer the student athletes safe, healthy activities,” he added.