The girls basketball camp is one of the many opportunities that West Central athletes can get involved with this summer. (Photo/Melissa Voss)

Melissa Voss | Editor

This year’s pandemic not only took the time spent in the classroom for students but took away their time on the court, field, or track.  Many high school sports did not even have the chance to kick off their season.  But West Central is working with their student athletes to give them an opportunity to work out and be healthy while keeping them safe.

Andrea Johnson, West Central’s newly appointed activities director and dean of students, finds that these summer sessions help students continue their progress on honing on their existing skills through various activities such as weight training, conditioning, and drills.

“Our programs promote physical fitness and general health and well-being.  It is also very good for their mental health.  In these sessions we are doing a lot of speed and agility drills, some weightlifting, shooting drills (getting your own rebound), ball handling drills, serving drills, and more.  Just a wide variety of things students can be working on,” Johnson says.

West Central has always held open gyms and offered numerous camps for their students over the summer, providing students an opportunity to build upon their skills.  But with COVID-19 still being present in South Dakota, West Central has to abide by guidelines set up by the South Dakota High School Activities Association (SDHSAA), National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), the Center of Disease Control (CDC), and the Department of Health (DOH).  This involves students having their temperature upon entering the building, answering COVID-19 screening questions, and sanitizing their hands.

Lastly, Johnson emphasizes on how the students take on a key role in keeping each other safe.

“We have sanitizer and disinfectant placed throughout the facilities and participants have received instruction to clean all equipment used during the session.  Water fountains are prohibited, but the bottle filling stations are available.  Students must bring their own bottle.  Students may choose to wear masks if they would like, but they are not required.”