Emily Williams, Gilpin County. This year of 2020 is continuing to prove to be a very challenging year, especially because of Covid-19. This pandemic has changed how the current school year is playing out. Sports this year are one of the many things affected by Covid-19. Gilpin County High School sports are vastly different than last year. At this time, school sports are not officially happening until January 2021, although students still have the option to attend practices. This comes with many stipulations, however. 

One of the sport teams that currently hold non-mandatory practices is Cheerleading. Though it is not mandatory, team members are highly encouraged to attend. The team is using this time for conditioning to get stronger and prepare for whatever the regular and competition season may look like. The stipulations to attend these practices are quite high. Team members are required to fill out a form that is signed by both themselves and a guardian stating that if they somehow catch Covid-19 while at practice, they cannot hold the school responsible. Temperatures are taken and Covid questions are asked upon entering each practice. Masks are also a large stipulation for attending practices. No student can enter the building without wearing a mask, nor are they allowed to take off the mask during practice. Team members are not allowed to be within six feet of each other and no more than ten members including coaches can be inside the gym at once. 

These requirements are hard to follow for this particular sport because of the typical close proximity of the team members due to the stunt work that is usually performed. However, because of Covid, stunting at this time is not allowed. Though it is challenging to adapt to these circumstances, Gilpin’s cheer team is making do and having loads of fun while doing so.

Coaching the Varsity Cheer team; Coaches Katie Yocum, Sandi Oliver and Kristen Williams, really put their heads together to come up with ways to make this complex season work. Though it is still challenging, Gilpin’s teams are making do, standing by for new rules and regulations as they are released and waiting for their moment to shine. 

(Originally published in the September 3, 2020, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)