COVID-19 has damaged athletic seasons left and right. From football to softball, all sports are taking a hit. Luckily, five sports at Fenwick are currently able to compete in somewhat normal circumstances: boys’ golf, girls’ tennis, girls’ swimming, and boys’ and girls’ cross country.

     The boys’ golf team has enjoyed great successes in the past, including trips to state and sectionals, so they are very eager to be back on the golf course. Due to COVID-19, they are currently unable to hold any practices as an entire team. Rather, they practice in small, socially-distant groups. However, they still continue with their matches, including two invites that took place at the beginning of the season.

     After these two invites—one at Ruth Lake Country Club and one at Lincoln Oaks—the boys moved on to matches against Brother Rice, St. Laurence and Marmion. The boys beat St. Laurence and lost close matches to Marmion and Brother Rice. In the coming weeks, they have multiple matches for which to prepare and at which they hope to continue their successes!

     Meanwhile, in girls’ tennis news, the girls are off to a great start. “Distant but United,” the varsity team is putting in the work under the guidance of seniors Caitlin Brady, Anna Dray, Lily Freda and Casserly Hyland. Their team has been able to compete in multiple matches, including an 8-1 victory over Providence, putting them at 7-4 overall and including a five meet winning streak at the moment. The girls remain undefeated in their conference as they approach their final duel with Loyola. This important match is not only their final duel, but it will also determine the regular season champions of the GCAC Red Division. Given this great energy, it is disappointing that the state tournament cannot be held this season. But the Friars will

continue to power through and hopefully become one of the favored teams to win the Suburban Cook County COVID Region on October 16-17. We cannot wait to see what this team accomplishes!

     The ever-competitive girls’ swim and dive team has made quite the splash into this season. In their first meet against Resurrection, the Fenwick Friars won every event! The team then came back for their second week and defeated both Benet and Marist. With these first two successful weeks, the 2020 roster is looking like a force to be reckoned with. While the girls remain undefeated, they continue to look ahead into the biggest challenges of the season, including meets against Loyola, Saint Ignatius and Rosary. While a championship meet is still undecided, the girls have been informed of a possible sectional on October 24 and are eager to keep working hard until then. Keep an eye out for these ladies as they continue with their season!

     Lastly, Fenwick cross country has been putting in the nitty gritty work this season. With a very limited season and few options for meet locations, the teams have learned to work with what they have. Most of the two teams meets are being hosted at our very own Priory. This “home field advantage” is coming in handy as the two teams have been rocking it at their first

two meets against Nazareth, Mother McCauley, Trinity, St. Lawrence and Brother Rice. Huge shoutout to sophomore Bella Daley, who was able to accomplish the course record at the Priory: 18:36.2 for 3 miles!

     While everyone continues to adjust to this unique year, we wish all sports competing this fall and throughout the school year the best of luck and hope they are all given the seasons they deserve!