Adviser Note: Due to the closure of school buildings, Knight Life will not be able to produce its traditional newspaper. Instead, the staff will be posting stories on a range of topics, including highlighting our athletes, seniors, and people in the school and the community who have made a difference during the COVID-19 pandemic. They plan to share ideas for things to do while confined to your home such as good books to read, videos to watch, and exercise workouts available online at no cost.

They also plan to write "Stay Positive" stories. For example, the waterways in Venice have cleared because no boats are clogging the waterways; the smog in New Jersey has eased because there are fewer cars on the roads polluting the air; the price of gas has plummeted; and people who are doing the right thing in Old Bridge.

District announces 50 percent hybrid plan to start March 1 BY MATTHEW MANGAM Sports Editor The 2020-2021 school year has been a year like no other before due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Students began the year attending classes virtually and learning in a whole new way. For the start of 2021, remote learning continued. However, Wednesdays, became known as Wellness Wednesdays when students attend classes on half day schedules. The purposes of the half day schedules are to help students catch up on missed work and communicate with teachers and counselors. Beginning March 1, the district’s hybrid plan will be initiated with some students opting for in-person instruction at the high school. According to the Old Bridge Re-Opening Plan, once the hybrid plan is back in effect, students will return to school two days a week, with a 50 percent capacity in the classroom. Cohort one students will go to school on Monday and Tuesday and cohort three students will attend on Thursday and Friday, with Wednesday remaining a remote half day. Cohort two students will be divided into two groups with half of the students attending school on Monday and Tuesday and the other half attending on Thursday and Friday. “I am confident that our remote learning plan will continue to meet the needs of all students as the district remains committed to a plan that brings students and staff Photo by Casee Sansevere back to the building when conditions allow for a safe Vincent Sansevere, freshman, takes return,” said Vincent Sasso, principal. notes during his virtual class online. For the remainder of remote learning, Microsoft Teams will still be the main platform used by everyone. Some students will continue joining virtual meetings for “in person” lessons and attendance. The current grading policy also will remain in effect, with projects and tests counting as 40 percent and participation and minor assessments each counting as 30 percent of the course grade. The only other change in the grading policy is the elimination of mid-terms for this calendar year. Ulyses Paiz, junior, said he would like to return to school “at some point just to get back in the feeling of normal life. “I think remote learning is pretty much the same as it was in the beginning of the school year,” said Paiz. “Everyone is still figuring out how to best use it.” Junior Ethan Nayak said he would be interested in returning to school and getting back to socializing with others. “I was never really fond of remote learning,” he said, “but as we continue, I have learned to like it a little more. I would go back to school so that I can see people who I don’t see often out of school, and overall, not miss out on the perks of high school and especially senior year activities.”

Midterms canceled, changed the grading game BY JOSH GATSON Sports Editor OBHS administration canceled midterm exams for this school year. “We decided to cancel midterms due to the limited amount of in-person contact time and overall stress on so many students during this unprecedented crisis,” said Vincent Sasso, principal. Canceling midterms changed the grading policy for this school year. Since there is a loss of 10 percent for the final grade, it would have to be made up for in some way, shape, or form. To make up for it, all four marking periods now count for more, making up 22.5 percent of the final grade instead if 20 percent. “Every decision we make is intended to help students and I hope this one is no different,” said Sasso. Since the cancellation of midterms primarily impacted the students in grades 9-12, some teens agreed with the decision. “I'm happy they’re gone because it takes Courtesy of Jaya Singh away the stress of studying, but it puts more Jaya Singh, junior, keeps up with her classes while pressure on students to pass each marking attending classes on Teams. period,” said Thomas Ramsden, junior. “Given the situation, canceling midterms is the most reasonable solution to preserve academic integrity and ensure fair technical logistics,” said Jaya Singh, junior. According to Sasso, the administration and teachers will continue to keep the students and staff connected. “At this time, we will continue to do everything we can to keep our school community connected and to support our students in any way possible,” said Sasso. “I am looking forward to getting back to in-person learning one day soon.”

OBHS assists students in getting support for mental health needs BY CASEE SANSEVERE Editor-in-chief For many years, talking about mental health struggles may have felt taboo. Many people barely spoke about what was going on in their lives and how they were feeling. School counselors, as well as staff, offer services for students to reach out if they are in need. With the pandemic soaring, as well as the winter months slowly coming to an end, students all over the township may be struggling with a variety of issues, including motivation and stress. “Our students can reach out to their guidance counselor, teachers, our Student Assistance Counselors – Mr. (Robert) Waitt or Ms. (Renee) Freel, and administration. We are all just an email or Teams chat away,” said Vice Principal Sally Fazio, adding that she loves to cook, makes lists, and walk her dog to help her manage her stress. Other staff members, like English teacher Janine Arciero, suggest to also reach out to parents or other adults you trust, as well as the mentor program, Knight T.I.M.E, which pairs students with teachers for extra support. She said she personally took up meditation, which can be offered in apps like Headspace, to help manage her stress and unwind. “My advice to students is to try and keep a positive outlook, and know this is a temporary situation,” said Arciero, reminding students to keep in touch with friends, as “laughter is the best medicine.” Students like Amanda Lombardi, senior, prefers to journal everything when she feels overwhelmed. “I like to write everything down when I’m super stressed, kind of like making a list. I have everything in front of me, and I can easily stay on track,” she said. “To deal with my anxiety, I like to paint. Not only is it a great way of expressing how I feel, it’s really calming for me. When I struggle with depression, I like to pray. When I feel lost, I like to turn to what gives me comfort, which is God for me.” “When I need something to pick me up, I usually do things that calm me down or distract me like making tea or listening to music that makes me happy. I also find that calling my friends, since they make me the happiest and always know what to say to pull me out of any rough periods,” said junior Briana Salica. “Sometimes even doing my makeup and getting dressed will motivate me to make the day better and productive.”

Courtesy of Head Space Another suggestion is doing things that bring comfort. It can be meditation, being out in nature, listening to music, creating art or a craft, or even writing about it. “There is no shame in asking for help, whether you ask a friend, your parents, a sibling, or even a teacher you trust,” said Arciero.

Pandemic forces many seniors to virtually visit college campuses BY RISHABH JAIN Staff Writer Seniors are beginning to receive their college acceptance letters for Fall 2021. With many applications completed, the final part is narrowing down the list. Grace Patella, who works in the high school’s College Center, explained how students selecting colleges must balance “how big they want it to be, how far they want to go, [and] how it pertains to what they want to major in.” According to guidance counselor Laura Laubach, typically campus tours are essential as they provide “a different and more in-depth view of what the campus is like.” Visiting one gives a high school student a scale of how far apart classes are, how the Photo by Rishabh Jain dining halls A main building at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and dormitories feel, and how connected students are. In past years, senior Justin Nguyen visited campuses and took in-person tours to learn more about “engineering programs, student life, and financial aid.” Due to the pandemic, colleges have digitized this information with websites and virtual tours. Virtual tours may help, but teens and their families must keep in mind they are specifically chosen snippets that best sell the college. After taking an online tour of Rutgers University, senior Alessandro Pogorzhelsky said he felt “the virtual part was not the same.” Others like Nguyen shared the same sentiment as

Courtesy of Laura Laubach describing virtual tours as giving students ideas, but not full experiences. Laubach recommends students to begin thinking about colleges and juniors should take advantage of colleges that have signed up for virtual visits through Naviance.

COVID-19 vaccine rollout sparks controversy BY LINDSEY WILKINSON Staff Writer With the roll out of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, people remain unsure whether they are worth getting. “Vaccines are so important,” said Audrey Baker, certified nurse at Old Bridge High School. “They help prevent disease by activating our immune system and then prevent the complications that the disease itself can cause.” But while vaccines are widely considered to be beneficial, they can sometimes cause side effects. According to the Mayo Clinic, there is a small chance that someone may experience severe allergic reactions or neurological side effects, such as seizures, after being vaccinated. That said, the possibility of death caused by taking a vaccine is small. Still, because the available COVID-19 vaccines were developed in a relatively short Courtesy of Moderna Inc. period of time, people are unsure whether it will cause more harm than good if they take it. “I think the government should hold off on making the vaccines mandatory,” said Lillian Antar, freshman. “I would love to get back to normal life, but I do not trust the new vaccines because it feels like they were extremely rushed.” On the other hand, there are groups of people who would possibly be better off taking one of the vaccines then going about their lives without it. Senior citizens and those with underlying medical conditions are at increased risk of suffering severe illness or death if they contract the coronavirus. Also, essential workers like doctors and other hospital staff face COVID-19 daily and are at greater risk of catching the disease. “Both my parents are essential workers, so they have received the COVID vaccine,” said Julia Rowan, freshman. “But, if you make the vaccines mandatory, people may feel that their rights are being taken away.” Despite concerns about the two coronavirus vaccines, they have about a 95 percent efficacy rate with minimal side effects, according to Baker. “The two vaccines developed and given emergency authorization at this time, the Pfizer vaccine and the Moderna vaccine, do not contain the COVID virus but rather teach the body to recognize the COVID spike and make antibodies to the spike,” Courtesy of Pfizer Inc. she said. Baker explained that she had already received the Moderna vaccine once and would get the second dose after 28 days. “If four out of five people are vaccinated against COVID then it is much less likely to spread among us,” she said. “I look forward to the day in the near future when the COVID vaccine is readily available to anyone who wants one.”

The race back to normal: Covid-19 vaccine distribution gains speed in US BY LEXI SOLIMAN Feature Editor The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have been administered to more than 22 million Americans since the beginning of the new year. So far, reactions to the vaccine have been positive with very few incidents of allergic reactions, which were all treated. New Jersey has set up mega vaccination sites at the Atlantic City Convention Center, Moorestown Mall, and NJ Convention and Expo Center in Edison, along with smaller county sites. However, with only 100,000 doses available to the state until more arrives, there are few to no appointments available for the 5 million people in need of one in New Jersey. The vaccination process will continue to go in waves and cohorts starting with essential workers at Courtesy of sfpublicpress.org high risk and elderly and working down to Doctors, first responders, and senior citizens begin those who are young and in safer situations. receiving first doses of Covid vaccines. More people are becoming skeptical about the vaccine’s safety. President Biden and Vice President Harris have both publicly taken the vaccine to show their faith and confidence in its production. Dr. Anthony Fauci also addressed concerns of the vaccine’s rate of production saying, “the process of the speed did not at all compromise the safety nor did it compromise scientific integrity.” Federal health directors announced that anyone who wants a vaccine will be able to receive one by the springtime. However, depending on the roll out and how quickly the doses are administered, it is more realistic that everyone will receive it by the fall. Johnson and Johnson announced that its vaccine yielded a 66 percent efficacy rate in latest testing with no safety concerns or side effects. This one differs from those already in distribution as it is a single shot vaccination and does not require a second dose to be effective, which has been a major issue as people are able to get appointments for their first shot, but not the second one. “While happy that vaccine distribution has begun, I am disappointed in the speed of the vaccine rollout and the great difficulty of the process of obtaining an appointment for vaccine for both 1A and 1B categories,” said high school nurse Audrey Baker. “People made appointments, myself included, only to arrive at a vaccine site and be told the appointment was cancelled.” The Biden Administration has already purchased 200 million doses of vaccines, enough for 100 million Americans. Biden also announced that up to 300 million people can be vaccinated before the end of the summer, showing much promise for the months to come.

Students, staff reflect on 2020 memories, lessons learned BY CASEE SANSEVERE Editor-in-Chief The year of 2020 was a roller coaster ride for everyone, no matter which way one can look at it. Starting off the year with an unexpected pandemic, shutting down the “normal” activities everyone participated in was an awakening experience for many. Despite only being physically in school for a few days in the past year, many students still enjoyed being there, learning as they normally would. “My favorite memory was definitely school,” said senior Julia Strom. “I was in choir, and met some people who are like sisters to me. I miss being in school, but I wouldn’t trade my experiences there with them for the world.” Other students enjoyed what came after, when the quarantine restrictions got less compact, and the Department of Motor Vehicles re-opened. Senior Taylor Obdyke said, “Oh, the license was definitely the best part of last year and getting my varsity letter. I worked so hard for both things, and it finally came together.” “So many good books came out that helped me get through the early Photo by Casee Sansevere phases of the virus, too. “All the Stars and Teeth” (by Adalyn Grace), “A Heart So Fierce and Broken” (by Brigid Kemmerer) …. all of them are so dear to me,” said senior Dhara Patel, also including that managing to see her best friend, after a year and a half, was also a highlight. While appreciating the memories of 2020, many agree it is important to remember what the year taught everyone. Nobody expected this, nor did they experience something quite like it before. Courtesy of Taylor Obdyke Obdyke said she learned that you need to live life to the Senior Taylor Obdyke flashes new license, gained during the pandemic. fullest, no matter what situation or obstacle comes your way, because she said she knows it always gets better. “It does seem hard to try and think about finding good in the past year,” said English teacher Jessica Tosonotti. “I do think the positive is that I was able to spend more time with my immediate family. I also realized that my gratefulness for all I have in my life increased significantly. I have learned to slow down a little, and really appreciate life more.”

Creative, fun ways to spend your Valentine’s Day while single BY FATIMA SYED Business Editor Single on Valentine’s Day, so what? Being single opens the door to loads of fun and gives you time to love yourself. Everyone needs down time with the harsh workload. So, now is the time to take care of yourself. For starters, try calming down with a hot cup of your favorite tea and look out the window. Watching nature helps calm nerves and be one with your surroundings. Spa treatments can make you feel like a different person. There is need to go outside. Just draw a bath, light some candles, apply a facemask, and start soaking. If you do not have a facemask there are plenty of easy DIYs to follow on the internet. “Those without partners should focus on themselves, their friends, and loved ones,” said Margaret Golshteyn, sophomore. Painting is a great way to bring out the creative genius in you. With each stroke a different stress will come out onto the canvas and free your soul. Adding to it, yoga and breathing exercises will loosen those Courtesy of Vogue.com tense working muscles of the week. Priyanka Chopra, actress, applies DIY body scrub in a video for Vogue. She used it to “People should try to do activities they enjoy or exfoliate, moisturize, and heal her skin. rest,” said Carmella Rose Sokolowski, sophomore. “I recommend that single people meet up with their friends and do fun activities together like painting,” said Lokyee Wang, junior. Single but not alone, try spending time with family and friends. Rekindling or starting new friendships lightens the mood and can be nostalgic. "If you are single and want to celebrate Valentine’s Day, my advice is to get to know your crush, if you have one," said Guerin Pollock, sophomore. Movie marathons are a great way to get away from reality, at least for one day. Inviting friends over – virtually -- just makes it better. While watching the movies you can appreciate your friends by exchanging small gifts. Photo by Fatima Syed “If you are single just enjoy the day with your family and Ashley Chan, sophomore, colors work on making them feel loved and making your friends loved,” her drawing to relax for the day. said Gianna Rosi, freshman.

Create inexpensive, homemade sweets for Valentine’s Day BY FATIMA SYED Business Editor February is the best time for making sweets and being creative. Sugar and sweets can light up the mood, especially the proud feeling one gets when making them. “Homemade sweets have the potential to be better than other sweets simply because you know the person made them purely for your enjoyment,” said Yann Rochelin, sophomore. Homemade treats offer the opportunity to cater to the recipient’s taste. It also allows for healthier and fresher ingredients to be used. Rice Krispies Treats, a popular sweet, can be made better by making it from scratch. There are just a few ingredients needed such as, melted marshmallows, mixed with the Rice Krispy cereal, and chocolate. One can cut them into hearts, and they may be just be what your Valentine is looking for. To make your own twist, add sprinkles, chocolate chips, or for a healthier option nuts like almonds. “I like making chocolate covered Rice Krispy Treats that are cut into hearts for my family because it is really easy and cheap,” said Isabella Walsh, sophomore. Creating delights from home mean more for the person receiving them. It can even be therapeutic for the person making them. Photo by Fatima Syed Ashley Chan, sophomore, “I have no complaints about store-bought sweets, but I think the drizzles pink chocolate on attention and time that goes into making your own can even be a form her heart-shaped Rice of self-care, and just take your mind away from the things we're Krispy Treats for her family. going through right now,” said Jessie Kim, junior, referring to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Ice cream waffle sandwiches are a trend with as so many variations. To make the waffles mix combine eggs, flour, milk, vegetable oil, sugar, baking powder, salt, and vanilla, in a large bowl. Pour the mixture into a waffle iron and wait for it to cook. One can add the ice cream flavor of your choice onto one side of the waffle and fold it to make a sandwich. “We're accustomed to doing the same things over again and taking the time to make homemade sweets for Valentine's Day allows us to Photo by Fatima Syed just have fun,” said Kim. Jessie Kim, junior, scoops chocolate ice cream onto her waffle to make A Strawberry Icebox Cake is an ice cream waffle sandwich. another effortless option to make even on a limited budget. Exactly three ingredients are needed. They are strawberries, graham crackers, and whipped cream. Layer the whipped cream, strawberries, and the graham crackers two or more times into a pan and then just pop it into the freezer for three hours. Photo by Fatima Syed When done chilling, cut it up into rectangles. Tej Mistry, junior, tops his icebox cake with “Making sweets at home can take a lot of time, effort, and skill but frozen strawberries. it's worth the wait,” said Tej Mistry, junior. Pastels, layering among most anticipated fashion trends for spring BY LEXI SOLIMAN Feature Editor New season means new fashion. As 2020 was the unofficial “year of loungewear, there are new and more anticipated trends for spring and summer of 2021. High waisted jeans and pants have been a loved trend for women recently, but men’s pants are beginning to follow suit. This classic ’50s and ’60s silhouette gives the illusion of a smaller waist and longer legs. They are expected to stay around considering the comfort and flattering shape they provide. “I love high waisted jeans,” said Lauren Rosenberg, junior. “They look good with anything from crop tops to layering. They make me feel put together, but comfortable at the same time. Pantone color of the year for 2021 is “illuminating”; a bright vibrant yellow. This color fits perfect for the sunny spring and summer seasons and can add a splash of color to any outfit. Yellow accessories like sunglasses or belts will be statement pieces to add to any basics. Other trending colors are neutrals, especially shades of brown and spring-time pastels. “Pastels are really great for the spring time. I know a lot of people get their nails done to match too,” said Rosenberg. One of Vogue Magazines top trend picks for the summer is monochromatic outfits. A whole outfit entirely of the same color makes for an aesthetic and more put together look, even if it is just a matching sweat suit. The pairing of different shades of the same color also goes along with the mono-toned look that will be popular in the coming months. Regency era trends also are returning but with a modern twist after many were inspired by the intricate and feminine styles that were brought back to life by the releasing of Netflix’s series “Bridgeton”. Corset tops are a more practical, comfortable take on the traditional corset of the 1800s. With lace up backs, beading, and lace work, the vintage and sophisticated look is expected to be popular for this coming spring. “I personally haven’t tried a corset top, but I’ve seen them Photo by Lexi Soliman all over, and I want to get one,” said senior Quianna New pastel tops at Hollister in EB Mall Sumpter. For both girls and guys, the creation of the “shacket” -- a shirt with the warmth and feel of a jacket -- will be a great option for the cool spring weather. Mostly plaid print, they provide warmth with a casual laid-back look. They allow for perfect layering, which is also in with white mock and turtlenecks being a must have in any wardrobe. More layering looks for the colder days include puffer jackets. “I love the brown North Face puffer jacket that’s popular on Tik Tok right now,” said senior Avery Cangro. “It mixes the trendy brown/neutral tones and a puffer jacket.” Brands release makeup products for spring, summer BY FATIMA SYED Business Editor With the start of 2021 comes new makeup. In a span of two months, companies have released many products and colors in a range of prices. The Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze Styling Wax has become a hot topic. This wax is flexible to use and leaves one’s eyebrows looking feathered without residue. It costs $23, while being vegan and cruelty free, which expands the product’s customer base. “I like that the wax keeps the brows looking more natural and encourages people to embrace their natural look,” said Julia Reste, sophomore. Chantecaille recently introduced its Future Skin Cushion Skincare Foundation which comes in eight shades: Aura, Alabaster, Vanilla, Nude, Wheat, Agave, Mahogany, and Espresso. It ranges Courtesy of anastasiabeverlyhills.com from light to dark, is lightweight, and vegan for $128. The refillable soft cushion compact makes it easy to layer coverage. “They have eight different shades and are cruelty free, but it is very expensive,” said Garrett Tassio, sophomore. Charlotte Tilbury’s Hyaluronic Happikiss Lipstick Balm, a popular product for its use of hyaluronic acid, hydrates and plumps the lips. The10 shades, include Happiberry, Happipeach, Enchanting Kiss, Romance Kiss, Passion Kiss, and Crystal Happikiss. Although, Happikiss is a lip balm it is highly pigmented such as a regular lipstick and sells for $34. “I think many people will like Happikiss because this lip balm allows them to apply on color while moisturizing,” said Athena Cheng, junior. Courtesy of Maybelline New York launched Lash charlottetilbury.com Sensational Sky High Mascara, which comes in two colors, Very Black and Blackest Black. The mascara brush bends, adding volume to all the lashes. It is waterproof, infused with bamboo extract, and does not flake or smudge for long lasting wear with a price of $11.49. “Sky High Mascara is affordable so it is a product many people can try without having to make a big investment,” said Iqra Insar, a senior enrolled in Cosmetology. New brand, Jason Wu Beauty , came out with Hot Fluff lipsticks which are cruelty free, vegan, and multi-use. These matte lipsticks can be used for lips, eyes, and cheeks with its easily blend-able formula. There are seven Courtesy of shades, including Jelly Roll, Gingerbread, and Biscotti. maybelline.com “The first thing I noticed about this product was how it was vegan and cruelty free, which is a plus when buying makeup, especially if it's at a drugstore,” said Faith Cheung, junior. Lift & Snatch! Brow Tint Pen offers a micro-brush to give a lifted eyebrow look. The brush allows one to create thin and thick strokes depending on the type of look desired for just $11. The 10 available shades include blonde, auburn, taupe, and black. “Although I don’t use brow products myself when working on clients, I believe that it is easier to use brow gels and dip powders instead of the brow tint pen,” said Insar. releases 10th studio album, BY CASEE SANSEVERE Editor-in-Chief The Foo Fighters, a post-grunge hard rock band, entered the new year strong with a brand-new album. Founded by Nirvana’s drummer, , in 1995, the group is known for its most popular songs like “”, “The Pretender”, and “The Sky Is A Neighborhood”. Released on Feb. 5, “Medicine at Midnight” was originally set to be played for the first time this past year on tour, but the pandemic put a damper on that. One of the major discussion points in the music community is when an artist switches up his sound, it gives fans something different. In a world where it is a hit or miss, Foo Fighters made this pop/grunge album work, even though the group had never done a project like this before. Featuring nine songs, running 39 minutes long, it was a very unexpected, but appreciated, twist. The first track, “”, sounds like something that would be played in the beginning of a coming-of-age film, making you want to sit and listen for hours, or get up and dance, depending on the mood. “Holding Poison” offers the same energy. “No Son of Mine”, the sixth song, was released on New Year’s Day as the second pre-released single from the album. This brings back the grunge, with bassist and guitarists and . Leading lyrics, “No son of mine will ever do/The work of Courtesy of independent.co.uk villains, the will of fools” push into the song’s themes of religion and individuality. “”, released Jan. 14, delivers beautiful vocals, but even better lyrics. Discussing the question of “Is there more to this”, the song is easily relatable for adults and teens, wondering what else there is to come and pushing to see what else can be achieved. From getting rid of self-limits, and playing the waiting game of life, this is easily one of the best songs on the album. The softest song, “Chasing Birds” is the eighth on the record, giving Jami Jaffee a perfect light to shine on the keyboard. Lyrics like “Chasing birds to get by/I’m never coming down” and “Dark inventions of mine/The road to hell is paved with broken hearts” has fans come off the energy high from previous songs. The brief, yet relatable, discussion of being overwhelmed, upset, and lost serves a stellar purpose of having time to allow oneself to feel, and that it is okay to not have a plan set in stone for life or even the next few hours. “Cloud Spotter” tells fans to do whatever their hearts desires. The lyrics, “Put your two cents where the sun don’t shine” and “Swing, swing guillotine queen/Cut me back down to size”, brings a sassy edge, pushing the idea of being happy and comfortable with yourself and that social structures and labels do not matter. “Love Dies Young” ties up the album with a pop-grunge anti-romance sound, making light play on the painful part of love, while pleading for the highs and lows of it to never end.

Winter sports off to late start with no spectators permitted BY MATTHEW MANGAM Sports Editor Winter sports, like boys’ and girls’ basketball and ice hockey have gotten off to a late start this season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Boys' and girls’ basketball started its season in early February while ice hockey began in mid-January with a game against Rumson-Fair Haven. The bowling team began its season with a game against Piscataway on Jan. 27. At the games, face coverings must be worn, and social distancing guidelines must be followed. According to the NJSIAA, Courtesy of Damien LoNigro Alex Sech, senior, waits for a pass in there is a 10- a match last season against Monroe. person capacity for games and practices. If the number of people needed for the event is more than 10, it will be allowed if the number does not exceed 25 percent of the capacity of the room. This means that no spectators will be allowed at practices Courtesy of Damien LoNigro or games. There also will be no NJSIAA sponsored post- Senior Alex Sech blocks a pass in a season for any winter sports. game last season against Monroe. The NJSIAA has limited competitions to three events per week, meaning the maximum number of games this season totals 15. “I feel all of the rules and procedures that the NJSIAA has sent out makes it safe for our athletes to compete in winter sports,” said Dan DiMino, director of athletics and supervisor of health and physical education. “Safety is the most important thing,” said Lucas Grissett, senior who competes in basketball. “These rules and regulations are the only way we can have a season, and if they are followed, it keeps everyone safe and allows us to play our season during these crazy times. The NJSIAA has done a great job to try to do their best to keep sports going during COVID-19.” Other winter sports, including boys’ and girls’ track started this month and girls’ volleyball will begin on March 1. Boys’ volleyball will start on April 1. These schedules are currently being set up and could change. “The new safety rules and regulations limiting people in the gym will be different, but if it allows us to play, I am all in and I might not have to yell as much,” said Alec Alspach, girls’ basketball coach. “As far as having no spectators at the games, I feel for the parents who wish to see their children play basketball. We also have a great atmosphere at home games which gives us an advantage that will be missed.” “I’m excited to get the season started,” said David Kish, senior who competes in ice hockey. “I’ve been looking forward to playing with the team since the school year began. I think the NJSIAA has done the best they could with the situation, and I am just grateful that they could reach an agreement with the rules so we can get back on the ice.”

Boys’ Winter Track team starts season after two-month hiatus BY JOSH GATSON Sports Editor After a shortened spring season last year and the current season postponed in December, the Boys’ Varsity Track team started its winter season back up earlier this month. “My expectations for the team this season are to take each day one by one and continue to improve,” said Nikolai James, junior. “We don’t know how this season will unfold but until then we have to continue working so we can win.” “The expectation for my team this new season is to have very a successful season with many PRs [Personal Records],” said Shad Downes, junior. Because of the pandemic, the new winter Photo by Josh Gatson season comes with net sets of rules and Devin Bendell, senior, competes in the 55-meter restrictions for the team and its competitors. hurdle relay, during the 2019-2020 indoor “There are NO county or state championships Greater Middlesex Conference championships. to be won this winter because of the virus,” said Jack Campbell, coach. For the team specifically, every athlete must fill out a COVID survey and take his temperature to participate. For practices, the weight room capacity is now limited. “In complete honesty, I think that even though COVID has slowed us down a bit, we’re still going to have a great season,” said Downes. “We have a great set of coaches, with kids who want to work hard and get better.” Overall, the whole team, coach included, said are pumped to start their new season and to take home trophies. “We will work to improve, have a few chances to compete, and get ready for the spring season when we will hopefully have some championships to shoot for,” said Campbell.