From football and volleyball to basketball and soccer, JPII has always been heavily involved in athletics, providing students many opportunities to get active through sport. (File photos/battlefordsNOW staff)

By Martin Martinson

Crusaders Sports

JPII Collegiate looking forward to return of high school athletics

Aug 31, 2021 | 5:05 PM

Athletics and academics have always gone hand-in-hand at John Paul II Collegiate, which is why staff and students alike couldn’t be happier to see sports return to the local high school on field and in the gymnasium this fall.

“Sports are one of the things that makes John Paul II such a great community,” athletic director, Vic Stynsky said. “It’s been a tough year-and-a-half with COVID, not being able to provide that opportunity for our students, so we’re happy to get back at it, and we’re really looking forward to it.”

Following student registration day at the high school Wednesday, it won’t take long for sports to kick off in various forms.

Football and volleyball tryouts will begin Thursday, with cross country sign-up available opening week as well.

Also fast-approaching is golf districts, which will be held Sept. 14 at Jackfish Lodge, with other sports such as basketball and curling still to come in the weeks and months to follow.

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Principal, Bruce Yockey said as far as COVID restrictions for the upcoming year are concerned, much of that will vary depending on the individual school where a game is played.

“A lot of it this year will just depend on where you go and where you play,” Yockey said. “It could be that in some places those that are on the bench have to wear masks or that kind of thing, and others you won’t, so it just depends on what each school division has in place.”

He went on to say that for JPII specifically, they intend to implement a mask policy only when travelling as a team in close-quarters within a team van on the way to away games. Otherwise there will not be additional masking requirements.

Yockey said while there may be a bit of rust at first for athletes coming off the COVID postponement back in spring 2020, he has little doubt it will last long once they get back out there playing the sport they enjoy.

“The kids I think are just really anxious and excited to get back and resume a lot of those activities they love being a part of at the school and we’re excited too as teachers and coaching staff, to get those athletes back and ready to compete again,” he said.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1