SPORTS

Capping off an unusual year

Posted 12/30/20

Happy New Year, everybody. And just like that, 2020 is a wrap. It's been the most unusual year we've had in quite some time, and for many of us, ever. Of course, the impact that this pandemic has made on homes across the globe goes far beyond sports, but

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in
SPORTS

Capping off an unusual year

Posted

Happy New Year, everybody.

And just like that, 2020 is a wrap.

It’s been the most unusual year we’ve had in quite some time, and for many of us, ever. Of course, the impact that this pandemic has made on homes across the globe goes far beyond sports, but from a sports perspective, what a crazy time it was.

I remember it so clearly back in March. I was on my way to cover the Johnston girls basketball playoff game against La Salle. No fans were allowed in attendance, it was the same day that the NBA postponed its season, and the rumor mill was spinning and pointing toward a total shutdown of sports altogether.

Those rumors came to fruition and we essentially saw our entire spring season wiped away while the conclusion of the winter was cut short.

We’re not yet back to normal, even when we have been fortunate to get sports back up and running. Whether it is gameplay, attendance, what have you, we are still inching our way back to normalcy.

I know it is tough to be grateful when the universe and this virus has been so unforgiving to us this past year, but let’s try as we close out 2020. As much as it stunk not being able to have spring sports, as much as it stinks having to have a different layout, at least we got sports of some sort. It sure beats having nothing at all, which for a brief moment in the spring looked like a possibility.

We are now just weeks away from getting the high school winter season underway, along with most college seasons. Professional sports have been doing a good job staying afloat and will only continue to improve their systems. Plus, we have some hope of a vaccine proving effective in the coming months.

We still have a ways to go and I am sure that the first half of 2021 will continue to be a rocky road, but I am confident that we have seen the worst of it and better days are coming. Let’s all do our part to stay safe, be responsible, and make some progress here to kick off 2021.

One last thing regarding the virus.

By now, unfortunately, many of you have had COVID-19 or have at last known people that have had it. I contracted the virus in the first week of April during the first wave and had a pretty rough go. It was two weeks of hell. I had a fever for 10 days, intense chills, fatigue, shortness of breath, lost taste and smell as well as 14 pounds. It was brutal.

I have been asked many times and am still being asked how I am feeling and about my side effects and whatnot. I am happy, and blessed, to be able to say that I have made a full recovery. After about 10-12 days, I felt pretty much back to normal and actually continued to lose weight (voluntarily) and am in a very good spot health wise. I very much appreciate those of you that have seen me at games and have inquired.

The only long term effect that it has had, weirdly, is that certain things taste different. Things with artificial sweeteners. Diet Coke, Gatorade, certain candies, they all have tasted a bit off since April. Not bad necessarily, just different. But hey, if that’s the worst long term side effect of the virus, I’ll happily take it.

On a brighter note, let’s recap some of the top sports stories of 2020.

I’d say we saved the best for last in the Toll Gate girls soccer team winning the Division III State Championship in November.

We all know the background of this team. In 2017, goalie and team leader Gianna Cirella passed away unexpectedly of sepsis, a rare and dangerous blood infection. The loss rocked the Toll Gate community and the state. The soccer team especially had it rough while grieving its friend, and the effects were apparent in seasons after.

The team had a couple down seasons, there was just a feeling of sadness at times during games. Understandably, the loss of Gianna took its toll on this team.

Entering 2020, the Lady Titans entered a new division and began to feel like their old selves again. They were confident and ready to make a statement and did just that, catching fire in the home stretch of the regular season and cruising to the championship win, all while being led by Gianna’s younger sister Cassie, who scored twice in the title game.

It was a fitting end for an unusual year and seemed to give the Toll Gate community some relief … something it had needed for three years.

My favorite redemption story for 2020 actually came before the shutdown.

If you recall in the 2018-19 winter sports season, Bishop Hendricken basketball was the top seed in the playoffs, easily won its division, but somehow lost to No. 16 Cumberland in the first round of the open tournament. It was a crushing defeat for the senior-laden club that night at Cranston East.

Then came last season and a new batch of kids came in ready to make a run. Coach Jamal Gomes felt early on that the team needed a breath of fresh air and it needed a new look, new mindset.

Well, it did, and came back with a nearly brand new starting lineup with just one returning starter and also dominated much of the regular season and won its division again. Unfortunately, the open tournament was cancelled shortly after. Although the team did not have the chance to finish the job, it won Division I and finished on top. Hendricken is always in the mix, but for the team to seamlessly transition into a new year with a new roster after suffering one of the biggest upsets in league history the year before? Even for the Hawks, that was pretty special.

Here are a few quick-hit teams that I enjoyed covering as well:

The Cranston East girls tennis team: This group had not been to the playoffs in multiple years and was on the outside looking in midway through the regular season. The Bolts went on a tear in the final few matches and even took a quarterfinal victory, all while sending multiple kids to the individual state tournament.

The Cranston West boys basketball team: The Falcons flew under the radar (pun intended) for pretty much the entirety of last season and advanced all the way to the Division II Semis. Sure, they came up short, but led by players like Jared Olson and Andrew Dionizio, that team was quietly one of the best groups in the division that deserved a chance to compete in the open tournament.

Similarly, the Johnston boys basketball team: This team was just littered with seniors. It was one of those things, where all logic pointed toward it being a team that was poised for a run, yet gaining zero buzz early on. Well, they made it to overtime in the Division III finals, and also deserved a chance to compete in the open tournament before it was taken away.

The Pilgrim girls soccer team: The Lady Pats were one of the elite groups in Division II the past few years and always looked more like a Division I unit. This fall, they were put to the test and moved up. Pilgrim did not disappoint, finishing as one of the top four clubs in the state and advanced all the way to the Division I State Championship. Girls soccer in Rhode Island is strong, especially in Division I. For Pilgrim to move up during a year when there was pretty much no offseason or summer program, it was impressive to say the least.

There were so many other teams and stories that I will remember. In a year with so much bad, I feel very lucky to be able to have some good to take with me.

Happy New Year to all of our readers, thank you for the support that you have shown us here and thank you for keeping local journalism alive. I look forward to seeing you out there in a few weeks.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here