When 2021 started it felt as if sports were never going to be played, at least, not for a while.
Some seasons were on pause, others hadn’t even started yet. Seemingly, there was a sense of anxiously waiting to see how things would progress – some of that is starting to creep back in nearly a year later.
But the mats were rolled out, the pucks were dropped, shots were shot. Champions were crowned and the 2020-21 winter sports season eventually made its way from start to finish. Through the thick of it, there were of course highlight moments, and the tough ones were sprinkled throughout.
The resiliency of student-athletes, coaches, administrators and families was tested throughout the cold days, but where there is resiliency and patience comes reward.
In the biggest form, some rewards were a year in making like for Concord boys ice hockey. The Crimson Tide had advanced to the championship game in 2020 and never got to play it because of the arrival of the pandemic. The Tide made it again, amid all the shutdowns and other woes, this time able to play and soundly defeated Salem for the program’s 10th championship.
Championships and close finishes were sprinkled throughout the capital area at the beginning of this year. Bishop Brady girls’ basketball went on a historic run capped off by a 52-50 win over Kennett to secure its first championship in program history. Hopkinton boys’ basketball found itself in the Division III championship game and were seconds away from pulling off the upset over No. 1 seeded Gilford. The Hawks lost a narrow 41-40 game in the closing seconds and ultimately ended the year with their runner-up finish – their best finish since 1965 when they won the Class-M championship.
2021 also brought about new faces to the sports scene in the Concord area. Nine new head coaches stepped out onto the scene including Concord girls’ ice hockey coach Tim Herbert, Bishop Brady girls’ basketball coach Sal Alosa and Bow girls’ basketball coach Phil Davis.
Alosa saw the most success with the Giants winning the championship, but Herbert and Davis too achieved success last season. Concord girls hockey made it to the quarterfinals round in the tournament and lost to Pinkerton, finishing the season at 10-6.
Davis and the Falcons jumped out onto the scene and rattled off 13 wins with just three losses on the season. Bow’s season ended in the quarterfinals to Hanover.
All these recollections are paving the way right now for new ones to take place as the 2021-22 winter sports season has already included some iconic moments. The 2020-21 season is one that all those seniors will remember and the rest of the athletes are building off of.
It’s the one that set the pace for the transition into the spring, but more on that later.
Ultimately, it’s the season that gave hope. Amid several shutdowns from an assortment of schools, sports pressed on and gave student-athletes an outlet they need. The season tested patience and maturity of developing young adults.
Resiliency was ever present and remains at the forefront.