Big Red Stays Fit While Remote
By: Henry Liu
Energy levels are increasing as students await their return to campus in the following weeks. Big Red athletes have been finding various ways to stay in shape over the remote winter term and are ready to reunite back as a team. Since many athletes have found ways to continue training in their off-season sports at home, they will undoubtedly be prepared to resume their hard work once back on campus.
Most off-season sports have been hosting meetings throughout the week on Zoom to meet as a group and discuss how to continue training while remote. “For diving, we’re meeting once a week on Zoom to do dryland drills, strength training, and stretching, and also just to be together as a team,” head diving coach Julie Van Wright said.
In addition, she added that “we also have a 2021 Team Challenge where each diver logs their weekly workouts (running, biking, swimming, hiking, etc.) into a spreadsheet with the goal of accumulating 2021 total miles of exercise by the time we return to campus.”
Prep Michael Yang explained how he has been keeping in shape for swimming. “I have been swimming eight practices a week at my home club team for a combined total of fifteen hours.”
Senior Cooper Walshe and upper Lindsay Machado have been cross-training to stay active. “I've been training to run a marathon with my brother. It's always been something I wanted to do and I figured this would be the best time to do it,” Walshe said. He also mentioned that he’s been “going to the swim team Zoom workouts that have been hosted by Coach Mills and the former captain Charlie Venci.”
Machado has been using other methods to exercise. “I’ve gotten a gym membership and I’ve been going to all the swim Zooms. Biking has been my main form of cardio lately,” Machado said.
Hockey coach Dana Barbin explained that most of the boys’ varsity hockey team was off-campus for the entire school year so far. “They knew it was likely we wouldn’t have a season this winter. So, they have been playing for different Junior teams and will continue to do that until mid-March when most will return to campus for the spring term,” Barbin said.
Once we return to campus, Van Wright was hopeful for the activities teams would be able to do together. “Hopefully we’ll be able to do some outdoor workouts together, in person. And once the quarantine period is over, we’ll be back to normal practices with weekly intersquad meets on Saturdays. It will be a short winter season, but hopefully everyone will have an opportunity to improve their dives, learn some new dives, and enjoy being together as a team.”
Walshe agreed. “I'm looking forward to hopping back into the pool with my teammates and looking at the throwdown belt, which is currently in my possession after I won a swim-off in the 50 free.” The throwdown belt is a W.W.E.-style championship belt passed between swimmers who exhibit diligence, sportsmanship and athletic excellence. “The first couple of practices are going to be ugly because I haven't done a flip turn in months, but I'm excited to build up my swimming ability again.”
