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The normal high school football season was half over before the governor announced that the kids could play football after-all. Coaches followed rigorous COVID-19 protocols and the kids practiced in small pods all over the fields behind the high school. Only 125 local fans and 100 out-of-town fans were allowed to watch games under the COVID-19 rules. Staff photos Brian Larsen
Tackling every part of education throughout the 2020-2021 academic year has been a challenge. Schools were quickly changed, rearranged and reinvented. With a sudden shift to distance and hybrid learning, teachers became overnight heroes, but even more than usual, and with more layers than we knew were possible. Both students and parents (heroes, as well) had to rethink every part of their schooling, their socialization and their extracurricular life. Big questions lingered. What overall profound impact would this pandemic have on young people? Would the sports and teams that kids needed now more than ever fade away? Who would step up to ensure it would all be ok?
Fifteen months later, with life slowly moving in a forward direction and with the last weeks of school upon us, I think about all the people and all the hard work and dedication it must have taken to keep things normal. I think about what it took to have kids going each day, with less stress and something to look forward to. I think about sports and teams and the practices and games that were held, against many odds, with the best interest of children at the center of it all. I think about the valuable time kids were able to spend, off their screens as a direct result of those teams.
A big highlight of the girls’ basketball team this season was when Ariana Poyirier went over the 1000-point mark. Because of the state high school leagues rules on fans attending games, the girls played in front of parents and close relatives this past winter, which meant there weren’t many people in the stands to cheer them on.
Team sports are about so much more than the playing of a game. Involvement in group sports correlates directly with academic success, social and emotional development and communication skills. Collaboration for a common goal, respect and making good choices are all direct outcomes from involvement in any team setting. This took my focus almost immediately to some of the other unsung heroes during this unprecedented school year: the team sport coaches. A coach is often defined as a person involved in the direct instruction and training of the operations of a team. A coach is a teacher and a leader. They plan, they organize, and they deliver results. This year, this was not an easy feat. ISD 166 School Activities Director and Assistant Principal Mitch Dorr talked about the past few months and explained, “We are kind of coming out of the fog, but it was a journey. Our head coaches did so much more work than normal in the past two years. Some lost a season, some played in weird times, we had games cancelled, etc.” Many teachers in the district double as coaches, along with members of the community in Cook County. Some of the programs available to students include Volleyball, Cross Country and Track, Football, Basketball, Alpine Skiing, Nordic Skiing, Baseball and Softball. The athletic programs have a great deal of history, dating back to the 1920s and 1930s. Mr. Dorr takes great pride in all the coaches within the school district, noting that each would indeed have an important, special story to tell regarding the past two years as a sports leader. He was right.
Nordic skiing was one sport that didn’t require wearing facemasks during competitions. That said, most meets were small, and kids were separated during the competitions. Cross country skiers worked out early in late fall in hopes of having a ski season and in January the state MSHSL opened the season to competitors. Because chalets were off limits, kids had to dress in vehicles for the meets.
Third year Cook County High School Social Studies teacher, Andrew Feddema, was head coach for the Boys Basketball team for the 2020-2021 season. His experience this year, as told to me, spoke volumes about his dedication to his players. Coach Feddema’s team was younger this season, and he chalked up their time together as a valuable learning experience that will only help them grow for next year. “Coaching during this time period was more of a challenge, no doubt. We had to factor in the fact that kids were in distance learning. This meant players now had to arrange their own rides to and from practice, since there was no bussing. This, in our very rural and spread-out setting, was a challenge for everyone involved. The kids really took this challenge head on. However, I must give them and their parents all the credit.
Baseball practice started in the fall but then ended when football was given the green light to be played. The National Pastime was okayed to be played in the spring with practices set up to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The Vikings’ young team got better and better through the year and came one run away from advancing to the Section 7-A finals.
We had 31 players come out for basketball in grades 8-12, and our practice attendance was nearly perfect. Again, this is a testament to players and parents for committing to the program. Distance learning also meant that for seven months, the only in-person social interaction with the kids came at practice. Having a basketball season gave all our players an outlet they would not have had otherwise. It was very rewarding to see the positive impacts and relationships built with players that may not have occurred otherwise.
Like all of the other sports, alpine skiers were affected by the shorter season and rules that governed practice. There were even rules about where they could get ready for the ski meets. Coaches and kids prevailed and had a great ski season.
In closing, covid brought many challenges to coaching, but ultimately it stood no chance to the desire of the players to commit to the program and to their teammates,” Feddema stated.
His first year as head coach, with a shorter than usual season, ended with a 1-14 overall record. Coach Feddema responded with admiration to his season noting, “Despite the losing, this was the hardest working 1-14 team I know of, there’s a lot to build on because of that.”
Dave and Becky Bartol, the dynamic coaching duo of the Nordic Ski team were also happy to share their story of success among the challenges thrown their way this past year. Both retired community members, they have been coaching the Nordic team for four years and are a cooperative with Two Harbors. There were 10 Cook County skiers and about 20 Two Harbors skiers last season, ranging from 7th grade to juniors (for Cook County). Becky Bartol broke down their season for me and addressed the triumphs and tribulations they endured this season.
Boys, like the girls, played basketball all winter wearing masks in practice and in games. The kids adjusted to the masks and played hard throughout the abbreviated basketball season that started in the second week in January.
“The best part of the season was simply skiing with the kids as a team. We would meet at Pincushion Trails, the kids full of energy and smiles, and go ski the trails. Moving our bodies in the refreshing cold air on finely groomed trails, with the kids always wanting to go on the biggest hills, we arrived back to the stadium tired, cold, and invigorated. For that one and a half hour of practice, we could forget about the pandemic, catching a glimpse of what normal could be like. We coaches could see the outdoor activity and team atmosphere was refreshing to kids who were spending their days hunched over screens. Our mantra was to be flexible and live in the moment. We did not know when our season would start- about one month late; we did not know how we were going to ski with masks on (original regulation) since some skiers have glasses and they fog up with a mask. Regulations changed, so we did not have to wear masks outside and distanced; we did not know if we would be able to race, but we could.
Only three teams could compete in cross country running meets last fall. Sadly, the last meet of the season was the section finals as there was no state meet in 2020. Above, a strong North Shore Storm girls’ team runs together at a home meet held on the Pincushion Mountain trails.
Our timing crew could not time during the pandemic, so every race had to devise their own system. We did not know if we would host a race at Pincushion- after multiple date changes and participating school changes, we held a meet!
We did not know if there would be a Section or State meet and if so the format. We held a Section meet and the format for the state meet was settled about one week before the meet. Section 7 Nordic coaches met via zoom every Friday evening, for two months to figure out the following week’s races.”
Volleyball players practiced with masks and social distancing but as the kids admitted, it was great to be able to play after the season was initially called off. A late start was better than no start at all and despite few wins, the kids had fun.
Coach Becky Bartol called this the, “Longest. Season. Ever.” The team, “Started with Zoom practices in November, in-person practice in January, and Sections in March. As the snow was melting and skiers had to use klister (ski wax) for Sections and State, we were all reminded why the Nordic season usually ends in mid to late February. In the back of our minds the whole season, keeping us on edge, was a concern about how to keep the kids safe. We held a meet at Pincushion, hosting two other schools. We had lots of support from the Nordic Community.
Our biggest challenge was keeping race volunteers warm while they stood around in the cold and snow for the three-plus hours the event took; we could not use the warming Chalet. The team did very well at the race, and it was the first race for some of our skiers, making all the effort worthwhile.” Bartol explained. An overwhelming amount of effort was indeed put into every aspect of the planning and partaking of their challenging season.
Softball started with the kids wearing masks but later the players were allowed to play without wearing a mask. Because of some games being canceled when a player on a team came down with COVID-19 there were a lot of make-up games to play at the end of the season.
Mike Prom has been the Head Coach for the Football program for the past three years and has coached on and off for the past 28 years. Coach Prom led a young, 9-man Varsity Football team, as part of a team of six coaches this season. He proudly reported they were one of the only teams in the state who were able to play a full (abbreviated) season of six games, ending with a 1-5 record. His team consisted of 25 students grades 9 through 12. Their season started late because of weather and was met with many challenges. A few players remained out due to the distance learning set-up and a few were out due to injuries.
Players were not able to use locker rooms and for many of these players, they traveled far for their games. For most of these students, practices and games were their only time to socialize and see their friends. Coach Prom explained, “We talked daily as a team about what a privilege it is to be a student athlete. Covid really magnified this – so many of our players told us how grateful they were to be playing, and how it was the highlight of their day.” He also stressed, “Football is a hard enough game and sport to focus on and compete in without all of the distractions we met up with. We were thankful for every practice, and for every game we got to play as a team.”
Paisley Smith (11) makes her free throw against Barnum. One of the Vikings’ big wins of the season came when they beat the Barnum Bombers at home.
Prom talked about how they were able to be slightly relaxed during parts of practice to allow his players to just be kids, but also noted how important it was to continue to work hard. His time spent with his team undoubtedly shed a new perspective and gave him a different kind of appreciation for the spirit of his players. Coach Prom gratefully acknowledged the strong support the team received from the school and the community, as well.
Both the Track and Field and Cross-Country teams are led by Head Coach April Wahlstrom. Coach Wahlstrom has led both programs for 12 and nine years, respectively. Coach Wahlstrom spoke about the challenges and victories she faced while leading 24 students, grades 9-12 in a shorter than normal Cross-Country season. “It was busy with hosting meets every week. There was a lot of extra work to set up meets and make that happen. We had a smaller participation level. The kids who came out had a blast, they grew over the season and they appreciated feeling somewhat normal again being surrounded by their peers and coaches even if it was with six foot of distance. It was a success.
We were able to have a section meet but there was no state meet offered this year.” Walhstrom noted. “At the start of the season, there was so much red tape and we faced folks who thought I was crazy for even offering this opportunity for kids at such a scary time. I knew we could do it safely and we did, we made it through the entire season without an incident and you could see the emotional well-being of the students improve during that time. There were many families who gave positive feedback and encouragement for offering it and I appreciated that it saved my well-being and ability to keep on keeping on.”
Coach Wahlstrom also stated that although the season started late for Track and Field, they are currently in the thick of it. Meet sizes are smaller but feel mostly normal. A successful season finish is wished to the members of the team.
Another stand-out coach for Cook County, is John Oberholtzer, the Varsity Alpine Ski coach. He has been coaching the junior program for many years and this was his first year coaching the varsity High School team. His skiers range from seventh graders to seniors. There were about 20 students in the program this year, both boys and girls. Coach Oberholtzer also had positive takeaways from his coaching season, dedicated to the safety of his team, along with the goal of rolling with whatever came their way.
“Despite Covid we managed to have a fun, good season. As we headed into winter it was totally unclear if there even would be a ski racing season. Each week there were updates and changes in terms of the pandemic that kept us hoping and wondering if the kids would be able to compete. Finally, we got the word we could train and compete with lots of stipulations to keep everyone safe. As a result, our season had a delayed start, and the kids were not able to do any of what we call dry-land training: working out previously to getting on the slopes. The kids were great at rolling with the changes. They just wanted to ski! A big hardship was not being able to be in the chalet at all to warm up. We practice under the lights at Lutsen in the evenings and it gets cold. Typically, the kids could go in, warm up, have a snack and then come back out.
This year, only the bathroom was open. The kids had to really dress appropriately and be ready to spend the entire training session outside. Again, they rolled with it and overcame that issue. Also, they had to entirely get ready either in their car or on the bus. Typically, we get ready in the chalet during training. It is awkward gearing up for skiing in the cramped confines of a car or bus! Their first race of the year had to occur with way less training than usual. So, that was a challenge and scary for some of them. We reminded them everyone was in the same situation and they got on board.
For a while there, it was week to week figuring out if we could get more races in. The state had good limitations in place about how many teams could be at an event due to the pandemic. So, all of us coaches and different schools cobbled together a season by doing smaller groups around the Northland. By the end of the season, we had many podium finishes for individuals and some overall team wins at the races. To have the kids out in the crisp, pure air, away from online schooling, away from their ever-present screens, was the balm that was needed for the Covid blues. I was super proud of all the kids’ performances. I know they were totally amped just to be able to do their sport which by no means seemed certain as we headed into early winter,” Coach Oberholtzer explained.
This year was an experience that I am sure will resonate for years, as an inspiration for future seasons.
When I first began to explore the idea of Coaches as unsung heroes, I was not sure what to expect. I knew that it had been a trying year all around, for everyone. From administration, to teachers, to parents, to the children in schools across the entire country. As I started talking to the coaches and asked about the stories they had to tell, I was met with similar responses. What I mainly discovered, however, was that they were not just recaps of their seasons. Instead, I heard thoughtful and meaningful explanations of how odds were stacked up high and beat at every turn. I heard from a dedicated group of people who take pride in what they do and who love their students and players. It is so gratifying to know that there are genuine, selfless people out there who still have the best interest of children at heart. I was not only impressed with what they had to say, but by how wholeheartedly they said it.
Mitch Dorr, the ISD 166 School Activities Director, summed up his coaching staff perfectly. “They are an exceptional class of people that love kids and have given them opportunities to be active during some pretty trying times. I am impressed daily with their love for our kids and the time and effort they give to our student-athletes. I cannot think of a finer group to work with.”
Kudos to all the players, families and coaches who are lucky enough to participate in the sport and activity programs available to the Cook County community and for the success of your respective seasons. They were all a success, undoubtedly, for so many reasons.
Thank you to all coaches in Cook County, and everywhere, who make the choice to make a difference.
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