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Hinsdale Central boys swimming coach Bob Barber chose a basic way to describe the mood of his team at Wednesday’s practice.
After the Illinois High School Association approved a plan Tuesday to give the green light for winter sports — besides boys and girl basketball — to resume practice and to be played seven days after the first practice, Barber said his swimmers were happy to be back in the pool.
“We were blasting music and cranking out yardage,” Barber said. “We were having fun.”
Low-risk sports, such as boys swimming, badminton, boys and girls bowling and girls gymnastics, cheerleading and dance, can begin practicing immediately in Tier 1 or 2 regions throughout the state. On Monday, the Illinois Department of Public Health moved Chicago and the majority of the suburbs into Tier 2, which will allow competition.
Hinsdale South badminton coach John Charters said he took the recent news with guarded enthusiasm following an up-and-down offseason. Badminton was among the numerous spring sports not to have a season last year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“I’m very cautious because so many times since last March we’ve been so excited to go, only to have hopes dashed away again and again,” Charters said.
“I take this with a reserved step, I hope it continues in the right direction.
“I sent an email back in November, when we thought things would get started, another email on Jan 1 and then one today.”
Whereas the Red Devils had two of their swimming groups resume practice on Wednesday, the Hornets’ badminton team is planning to start next Monday.
“In our official email to all of the kids, we are going to start on Monday,” Charters said. “After seven days of practice, we’re going to get together with our conference to see how it will look, on who plays who, the facilities and all the other stuff.”
On the other side of the news, Riverside-Brookfield boys basketball coach Mike Reingruber said Tuesday’s news is a step in the right direction, even if his team can resume contact days practices similar to the fall sessions. The Bulldogs are slated to bring back at least six seniors. Under the new guidelines, intra-team scrimmages for boys and girls basketball can also begin.
“We are excited to have an opportunity to get back on floor with our guys, more than anything,” Reingruber said. “The kids are really craving to be out there and be there in front of them, been too long, as long as plans put out safely, we’re ready to go.
“Whenever the time is upon us, we are ready to go, don’t care if we have one practice or two weeks of practice.”
Charters said he’s excited about the opportunity to lead a strong group of players that includes sophomore singles sensation Maggie Chen and senior captains Samantha Heinking and Debra Hopkins.
“Last year we probably had our best team, and that speaks volumes because we’ve had so many great teams,” he said. “This year we have a lot of kids leery of jumping back into it. We’ve lost some of motivation and luster.
“It’s a great unknown. We might lose some kids because in our conference you can only play one sport at at a time. But we have a strong core coming back. We’re excited to think have the opportunity. At this stage, whatever opportunity we’re given, we’re thankful for, whether we play six games, 16 games or play the same team 16 times, we’re fine whatever is presented to us.”