B-P Cross Country and Golf Teams Compete With No Spectators and New Health and Safety Protocols in Place
Inaugural Girls Varsity Golf Team Sees Promise in First Year
The fall sports season at B-P may look a bit different than in years past, but athletes on both the cross country and golf teams have enjoyed some unexpected time in the spotlight this fall.
In mid-September, Broadalbin-Perth athletics announced that it would be following the guidance of the Foothills Council, and joining forces with the other schools represented in the league, to postpone moderate and high-risk fall sports until spring 2021. Lower risk sports like cross country and golf would be allowed to compete, but without spectators. Athletes are required to follow strict health and safety guidelines including wearing a mask at all times and no handshakes or fist bumps with competitors and teammates. Read the complete story here.
“It wasn’t the fall sports season we were looking forward to, but we’re very appreciative that athletes from cross country and golf are still able to compete,” said Tucker Gifford, B-P’s director of health, physical education, athletics and nursing. “We remain hopeful that our other athletes who traditionally compete in soccer, football, volleyball, and cheerleading in the fall will still get a chance to have some alternative version of a season before the end of the school year.”
Gifford commended B-P’s cross country and golf student-athletes and coaches for quickly adapting to new protocols and understanding the necessity to prioritize health and safety above all else.
“I have to hand it to these kids for being diligent with wearing masks and social distancing,” Gifford said. “COVID has left its imprint on everything. We don’t have spectators, our runners compete in face masks, and our golfers have to skip the tradition of shaking hands with competitors. But despite those inconveniences, our athletes are still able to compete and reap the benefits of being involved in a team sport. We are making the most of the cards we have been dealt.”
The B-P fall sports season kicked off on Sept. 21 and will continue through Nov. 21. This fall, B-P has both a girls and boys varsity cross country team, as well as a boys varsity golf team and, for the first time ever, a girls varsity golf team.
For its inaugural season, five ninth graders have signed on as members of the Patriots’ girls varsity golf team. Tony Mucilli, who coaches both the boys and girls golf teams at B-P, said he is very proud of the strong foundation they have built for the girls golf team.
“We have a young group of golfers on B-P’s girls team this year, which bodes well for the future of the program,” Mucilli said. “They’re learning more and more each day and with each match that goes by, I can see their confidence build as individuals and as a team.”
Gifford noted that all five student-athletes on the girls golf team traditionally participate in other fall sports, and said the circumstances of this year provided the “perfect opportunity to finally add girls golf to B-P’s athletic offerings.” “I am really excited to see our girls golf at B-P this fall and look forward to watching the program grow in future years,” he added.
The B-P boys golf team remains undefeated this year, with a current record of 6-0. The perennially strong team finished 15-1 in 2019 and are the reigning Foothills Council champs. Since 2014, the team has finished third or better in the Section II Tournament, including a Section II Championship in 2015.
Gifford has been chronicling the cross country and golf teams’ matches this season on social media with live video feeds and competition updates for parents and spectators who are not able to be there in person this season:
- Instagram – @bp.athletics
- Twitter – @BPpatriotsAD
To see the latest sports schedule, go to the “Schedules and Rosters” link on the athletics page of this website: https://www.bpcsd.org/athletics/