QUECHEE — Chris Goodwin’s message was fairly simple to his Mid Vermont Christian Academy girls basketball team Friday afternoon.
Look at the banner. Now go get one that doesn’t read “co-champions.”
The Eagles paid homage to their shared 2020 VPA Division IV state title with Proctor with a brief ceremony before the start of their practice, hours after Vermont Gov. Phil Scott announced school-based indoor competition could begin next Friday.
After analyzing the data gathered since teams began full-contact practices on Jan. 18, Scott said, officials felt comfortable with allowing games to begin. Basketball, ice hockey, indoor soccer and futsal, broom ball and volleyball were among the activities allowed.
“Going into this season, I had kind of lost hope (of us being able to play) and thought, ‘Maybe basketball isn’t going to be for me this year,’ ” said Lydia Eastman, one of two Sharon Academy students on this year’s MVCS team. “But I’m really glad I came back, and I’m excited to see how this season goes. I hope we get the chance to get to the playoffs and make another go at it.
“Last year, after the season got canceled, we all got dinner together and talked over how the season ended. We’ve been talking if we want to put it (banner) up or not because co-champions doesn’t mean the same as a single championship. We figured as long as we get another one it will be all good.”
Last season’s state championship run was cut off in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Eagles finished the season 17-6, upsetting No. 1 seed West Rutland in the semifinals before the final was axed. While it came with the designation of co-champions, it is the first state title in school history.
“Even though they’re really proud of what they accomplished last year, they see the “co-” on there as something they would like to remove this year,” Goodwin said. “That’s motivation for them; I think that’s going to be the No. 1 driving force behind their focus this year. They really want to be champions by themselves.”
The path for a return to play in Vermont spans back to the final days of November. High schools were originally supposed to begin practice on Nov. 30, but that was pushed back until Dec. 26. due to rising COVID-19 numbers in the state. Then, teams couldn’t hold contact practices until Jan. 18.
When competition does begin next week, teams will only be allowed to play two games in a seven-day period and must schedule three days off between games. Spectators will be barred. Only players, coaches, officials, time- and scorekeepers, and credentialed media will be permitted at indoor events and masks are required at all times.
Alpine skiing, Nordic skiing and snowboarding and other outdoor sports were allowed to start holding races since Jan. 18 under Phase II of the state’s sports and recreation guidance.
“We’re happy that games are able to begin,” VPA associate executive director Bob Johnson said in a phone interview. “At the same time we’re still going to caution schools that they still need to be vigilant. If they want the games to continue, we need to make sure we stay cautious and vigilant with everything that we do that’s not involved with the direct game.”
Johnson said the VPA winter sports calendar has been extended until March 27 and plans are in place to hold postseason competition.
Friday’s announcement didn’t come without admonitions. Scott made clear that his decision could be reversed if necessary and he is willing to do what is necessary to keep residents safe from COVID-19.
For Hartford High athletic director Jeff Moreno, he’s happy the athletes’ patience has paid off.
“I’m not sure my high school self would’ve been so gracious having to wait,” he joked. “They’ve been awesome. And it is part of why I’m so excited is because they deserve a chance to have a season in some way, shape or form. Even though we’re getting a late start, we’re still going to have a month and a half of a season. Honestly, compared to what we’ve been feeling lately, a month and a half is going to feel like forever.”
The excitement of being able to play against a different team isn’t lost on Sydney Goodwin, a senior on the MVCS team. The Eagles are scheduled to tip off the season next Friday at White River Valley.
It’s the first step of a journey Goodwin hopes will end in another trip to Barre Auditorium.
“We’ve been ready for it for a long time,” she said. “It’ll be interesting to see how everything goes, we’ve never had two months to prepare. I think we’re not as ready for game situations, but mentally we’re ready.”
Pete Nakos can be reached at pnakos@vnews.com.