GMHS boys varsity soccer team wins NCCC West championship

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Thank you to the Board of Education, Granby Public Schools Administration, parents, players and townspeople for doing everything in your power to have a fall sports season for our student-athletes. While it is great to celebrate a boys soccer championship and give a positive memory the boys can cherish and reminisce on for the rest of their lives, the greater accomplishment is how every single player associated with the program changed their personal habits, routines, and rearranged family calendars to keep the season from being interrupted by COVID. In a world that is dominated by negative media and constant fear, let’s acknowledge and focus on these positives:

• In the midst of a global pandemic, the boys’ varsity soccer team at Granby Memorial High School was able to complete a full 12-game schedule plus two tournament games, and two JV teams were able to complete their full 10-game schedule. Final Record 11-2-1 (NCCC West Champions)

• Parents were only able to attend home games, and, for many, this would be the first time they would have to miss their kids’ games. But the Granby Boosters and the athletic and technology department members acted quickly to purchase live streaming video equipment so everyone, including those family members who were in different states, former players, coaches and coaches’ families who still wanted to be associated with the program and parents, could watch and actively support every second of every game.

• Graduating seniors (on this team there are 12) and every player on the team were able to have some normalcy for the first time since March 13. Even though this new normal was different from what they were accustomed to—wearing masks to and from games, shorter practices, not being able to use the locker room, etc.—they persevered and recognized that these small changes would allow their season to take place.

• While the State of Connecticut rolling weekly COVID-19 average was continuing to increase during the month of October and into November, the town of Granby has been able to stay well below the state average. Our season would not be possible without the community of Granby following science and doing everything in their power to keep each other safe.

• Parents of the players on the team came up with new ways to celebrate the team’s success because they couldn’t be in person to celebrate. They honked from their cars while the bus rolled into the school parking lot during the tournament. These moments were appreciated by the players and brought smiles to their faces.

Lastly, thank you to the Granby Rovers coaches (you know who you are) and Dave Emery, retired varsity head coach, for developing highly skilled players who have a passion for the game and display the highest amount of sportsmanship and class.