Milton athletes are working hard this fall season, practicing both remotely and on campus, despite the absence of regular team competition. As all fall teams began the season remotely, coaches had to think of creative ways to keep athletes moving and connected to each other.

Boys’ cross country coach Scott Bosworth said the team “approached this strange season with the same commitment and determination as in past seasons. We had active and engaging Zoom meetings where we talked about the challenges we face with the pandemic, motivational tools to get us through, and the need to stay together and be supportive of each other. We watched videos about Wilma Rudolph and Billy Mills, two athletes who overcame huge obstacles—physical, economic, racial, and substance abuse—to become Olympic gold medalists, and we had lively discussions afterward.” 

“The soccer season has been great thus far in spite of the different forms it has been taking,” said Boys’ soccer coach Chris Kane. “We have a large and passionate group of soccer players and we used the remote learning period to build connections across students across the various levels of our program.”  

When day students returned to campus in October, head football coach Kevin MacDonald said the players who were on campus focused on the “fundamentals of the game. We practice on the game field, but we are not running plays and not wearing equipment. And it’s gone great. Our philosophy is to make them better players.”

Britney Carr, assistant director of athletics and field hockey coach, said while it is a “challenging time for sports, we have been trying our best to make it fun.” 

Kane said, “With the return of day students, we took on a hybrid model, which includes Zoom workouts and yoga sessions as well as in-person practices. We are thrilled to have this time to work together and the coaches have appreciated the awesome energy and enthusiasm that students have brought every day.”

Bosworth said, “Now that we are partially in-person, the team has experienced a bit of normalcy as we can train as we have in the past, albeit with masks. We have conducted two time trials so far and have two more planned. These are a good way to assess fitness, set goals, and create a bit of competitive energy. Our remote student athletes run by themselves on their own home route. As coach, I am very proud of the way the team has adapted to the situation and applaud their commitment, drive, and desire to be their best.”