The Covid-19 Pandemic has certainly changed the world in which we currently live in, and although it has taken away many important parts of our lives, high school athletes were more than thrilled to get back onto the field and participate in their respective fall sports. After losing many of the winter championships games and all of the spring season, sports came back this fall in a modified version.

 

The Norwood golf team took to the Norwood Country Club with enthusiasm despite all changes. Instead of its normal 15 game season, golfers participated in 10 matches this year and instead of going out in foursomes with two golfers from each team, the groups would consist of only members from their school while the pins would not be removed from the holes. “With Covid, it definitely was a different type of year on the golf course, but the kids were just glad to be playing,” Norwood Golf Coach Chuck Allen said. “Social distancing made it unusual, but we got through it as did everyone else. The changes were tough, especially not knowing what your opponent was doing on the course, but the athletes made sure they wore their masks. We did see some lower scores than in the past years.” During their 10 matches this fall, the Mustangs were able to go 4-6 in their regular season. Norwood golfers posted their best ever score at the Norwood Country Club (228) only to come up short and losing to Medfield. Leading the Mustangs onto the greens were senior captains Jared Shea and Nick Spadorcia. Shea ended up shooting a 2.1 above par for the season and concluded the year’s last match with a 3 under. Spadorcia played in only half the team’s matches due to a fracture in his arm but still managed to average a 2.5 over par. Sophomore Sean Dittimier started the season rough shooting a 12 over par in the team’s first match of the season, but managed to regroup and over the last 7 matches shot 2 over to end up with a respectable 3.5 over par for the season. With the football season being moved to February and nothing to do in the fall, a couple of gridiron athletes tried out for the golf team and were able to find themselves in a couple of matches this year. Seniors Jason Denehy and Rob Wladkowski left their shoulder pads and helmets in the locker room in exchange for their golf clubs. “Having moved the football season to early next year, these guys were looking for something to do with their time,” Allen said. “They made the team, showing they belonged, and both shot in the low 40’s for us.” One other senior on the squad was Joe Demarais. Although the Mustangs will be losing their top two golfers to graduation Allen is thrilled about what he has coming back in what he is hoping is a normal season next year. Those returning will be juniors Erin Sullivan, Bryan Connolly and Ethan Barrows as well as sophomores Kevin Sople, and Dominic Conidi. Norwood also had a handful of freshmen playing for the junior varsity squad that should make a run at securing a spot-on next year’s varsity roster. “Outside the seniors, we have a good core of athletes that will be coming back next year,” Allen said. “I’m just hoping that we are back to normal by then. The biggest thing was that everyone was able to get back onto the course and have fun, especially the seniors. Jared really wanted to prove himself this year, unfortunately he really didn’t get to do that with all that was going on.” While it may not have been the way he wanted to showcase his talents on the greens this year, Shea did earn notoriety from the other coaches in the league being name to the Tri Valley League All Star Team in addition to being the recipient of the Sportsmanship Award. J