Davis High weight room reopens following COVID regulations
PHOTO: Freshman Alex Gallagher lifts weights with the rest of the men’s water polo team.
By Kate Sumner,
BlueDevilHub.com Staff–
Some Davis High teams have returned from a COVID-19 break to practice for their possible upcoming seasons.
The school’s baseball, cheerleading, field hockey, football and men’s water polo team have all started practicing again. The Davis High weight room, following Yolo County COVID-19 safety guidelines, has opened its doors to teams in need of equipment.
“We do allow coaches to bring weights outdoors for use,” athletic director Jeff Lorenson said. “All weights must be disinfected between each student’s use. Coaches then return the weights indoors and disinfect for the next program’s use.”
While adhering to the weight room’s guidelines, the men’s water polo team currently uses the facility’s equipment outdoors. The team meets for practices on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 2:30-3:30 p.m.. All of the athletes must wear their masks and maintain six feet of distance between each other.
“For the first week we practiced inside the weight room, but then we had to switch to practicing outside. I personally haven’t found it very difficult to do the exercises with a mask and most of us are good about distancing,” freshman Alex Gallagher said. “I was glad to be back practicing with my teammates.”
The team has created multiple stations to safely workout while maintaining six feet of distance. The people using weights remain in the area in between the weight room and dance room.
Weightlifting mats are spread a safe distance from one another so athletes can safely do their workout. “Then [we] have two additional stations – one by [the] cyclone fence for resistance band work and another underneath the overhang of the new gym for cardio and ab work,” said Tracy Stapleton, the men’s water polo coach.
Athletes appreciate the weight room’s availability.
“I like that the weight room is open because I can stay in shape during the pandemic,” Gallagher said. “We don’t know if we are going to have a season or not, but it’s always good to be prepared for next year.”
