Shut down in New Mexico by its governor, fall sports can only turn to the television tubes

Great to watch the tubes, especially when there’s high school sports to see.

Presently, the list of schools participating in fall sports has grown to 38. On Thursday, Friday and Saturdays, there’s football, most recently back-to-back Saturday night tilts featuring two of the best teams in Oklahoma and two of the same in Florida.

One Saturday morning, there was a high school state cross country meet raced in Georgia.

The other day, you could watch the state volleyball championships played in Indiana in groups 1A, 2A, 3A and 4A.

This weekend, schoolboy football games are scheduled for Texas, Florida and Ohio. Volleyball from Wisconsin, and a cross country dual meet from Arizona.

That’s live, all these events are live and sticking with the coronavirus pandemic restrictions. Limited attendance chosen by the home team, face masks worn while on the sidelines, and the bands (while not playing) and cheerleaders (while not cheering), to also abide with these rules.

But here in the Land of Enchantment, it’s a different story until Gov, Michelle Lujan Grisham gives the okay to take the field, the gymnasium, the cross country courses. At this time, the decision is to play the fall slate in the spring. There are other states still without playing time, but they, too, fear the threat of COVID-19.

But at the same time, there’s frustration here in New Mexico, especially when these games played are found on television. Some teams have been practicing, some have not.

“We’ve been having practices,” says Santa Fe High head football coach Andrew Martinez, “and the kids have been showing up, but wonder when they will finally be allowed to play. I think it would be worse if we didn’t have practices.”

Martinez isn’t sure how other coaches are responding to this shutdown. Who else is practicing? Are there face masks worn by those on the sidelines at practices? Are those not connected with a team allowed to be there? Are pods being used? Yes, it sure is frustrating.

Eugene Doyle, who had retired from coaching boys soccer and after winning the state championship while at Capital High School, is now the initial head coach of the new boys soccer program at Academy of Technology and The Classics. He said he is happy to be back on the sidelines, but hasn’t held any practices yet. He added that he has been touch with his players, and has held several meetings.

“I’m anxious to get started,” Doyle says. “I’m familiar with ATC because when it didn’t have soccer as a sport, it was eligible to play with my Capital team, and when we won state, it was a player from ATC who scored the winning goal.”

Also at ATC, girls head basketball coach Ron Drake, has been holding practices as he looks ahead to his second season after winning state with the Pecos High girls.

As for the state volleyball championships held at Muncie Arena, home of the Ball State basketball team, 1A led things off with the Pioneer Panthers winning in four sets over the Loogootee Lions, 25-23, 27-29, 27-25, 25-22, all close, tight tussles, that brought Pioneer its first state title. Maddie Blickenstaff, a 6-foot-2 senior, paved the way with seven aces, 34 kills, 19 digs, and eight blocks. The play of sophomore Brooklyn Borges at the net also contributed to the victory, and junior Jaelyn Walker excelled in defeat with nine assists and a trio of aces.

Then came 2A. This one was in straight sets as the Barr-Reeve Vikings handily turned back the Wipahani Bruins, 25-13, 25-13, 25-19, in their seventh state finals and fourth as champion. The Vikings went 18-2 through the state playoffs and featured the Graber sisters, senior Makayla and sophomore Hannah, with 6-2 junior Addison Ainscough coming away with 27 kills, nine blocks, and four serving aces. For the Bruins, the Wagler sisters, senior Emma and freshman Sarah, combined for 16 digs and 10 assists, and they went 18-5 through the playoffs.

In 3A, it was the Brebeuf Jesuit Braves winning the first two sets, 27-25, 25-15, before Fort Worth Dwenger’s Bisons stormed back to win the next three, 25-17, 25-21, 15-11. It was the third state championship for Dwenger, and its seventh final appearance. It was late in set two when Dwenger called a time out and responded behind 6-3 senior Eva Hudson’s play at the nets, the digs of sophomore libero Olivia Clark, and the all-around play of team captain Lexa Zimmerman, a senior. For the Braves, junior Lilly Olson did come up with six serving aces.

The finale was 4A. Undefeated Yorktown’s Tigers won its 35th in a row and fifth state championship after losing the first set, 25-16, to the Munster Mustangs. From there, it zoomed away to 25-19, 25-18, and 25-15 winning sets behind the play of sophomore Emily Hill, senior Kimberly Bell, senior Katlyn Judge, and junior Ellie Stinson. Hill had a super second set with four aces, three blocks and nine kills.

It was Bell’s turn in the third set with five blocks and six kills, the 6-1 Judge added seven blocks, eight kills, and seven aces, while Stinson, only 5-3, came up with 14 assists. It was Munster’s third loss of the season and it gained the final by edging Fairfield, 3-2, in the semifinals on four-straight points from senior Holly Kaim. Yorktown had a pair of 3-1 playoff wins and won its semis with a sweep over Indianapolis’ Raiders.