The senior class of 2021 risks losing a lot from not having a fall sports season. Everything from homecoming to graduation is up in the air. Some fall sports seasons have been cancelled as a result of new CHSSA COVID-19 precautions being taken at AHS, and we are also beginning to wonder what the winter and spring seasons will look like.

One of the largest sports teams at AHS is the Alpine team, composed of students from both Aspen High, Basalt High, and even Glenwood High. Alpine skiing is categorized in “season B” as a “moderately risky sport” meaning it is not a contact sport but not nearly as “safe” as sports like cross country running. Although many plans for the winter and spring seasons are tentative, some, like Alpine Team coach Jennifer Morandibenson are optimistic.

Alpine Team coach Jennifer Morrandibenson comments on her hopes for her athletes to get the opportunity to compete in states going into the 2020-21 ski season.

“One hope for this coming season is, of course, simply to compete as we are defending champions and the hope is to continue defending our championship,” Morandibenson said.

There are high hopes that the mountain will open, meaning the team will be able to compete. However, there will be some changes in the season including less or no team travel, less training as a result of possible new Ski Co regulations, crunched time after school for skiers to practice. The biggest potential loss is State Championships this year which is undetermined.

Other winter sports, such as nordic, hockey, and swimming will be facing similar regulations this winter and this will most likely apply to the spring sports this year as well. Senior Kylie Kenny has a scholarship at DU for Lacrosse, is a top runner on the AHS cross country team, and skis nordic.

“Team culture and the spirit of competition hasn’t been diminished at all this fall because of the fact that there are these new rules,” Kenny said. “I feel terrible for those athletes at our school especially who are missing out on their fall seasons right now, I’m extremely fortunate that cross country has gotten to compete and I’m just hoping it will be the same for all of my other sports.”

Despite the circumstances, fall sports like Cross Country have been able to still have a successful season. The hope is for every athlete to get some version of their sports season this year, Cross Country is the perfect example of how sports can go on with new regulations and some outside-of-the-box thinking.

“Just like how graduation looked a little different this past year, we’ll do everything we can to make this season special for the seniors but we will need to just get creative,” says Morandibenson.