What was supposed to start in August is finally happening for Greenwave and Bighorn high school athletics.
The fall season officially begins this weekend for both Fallon and Oasis Academy, which competes in the 3A and 1A classes, respectively. The Nevada Interscholastic Activities Associated decided last summer to move the start of the high school sports season to January for winter sports, followed by fall and spring. Basketball and wrestling, which were on the governor’s “no-play” list, missed out completely on their season.
This weekend, though, marks the first time that the Greenwave and Bighorns will compete this school year. Each season is six weeks, including regional playoffs. No state tournament will be played.
Fallon’s boys and girls soccer, boys and girls tennis, volleyball, girls golf and cross country teams will be in action, beginning Thursday. The football team plays on Saturday at Dayton before hosting Spring Creek next week.
“We are excited that we get to one of the first teams to start sports back up since COVID-19 hit,” said Fallon volleyball coach Taylor de Braga, whose team hosts Elko on Friday at 6 p.m. and travels to Dayton on Saturday at noon. “The girls are ready to be back on the court and excited for some competition. We have a talented group of girls this year and they have been dedicated to open gyms and practices since July. To say we are ready to finally get to play is an understatement.”
Only a limited number of fans will be allowed to attend home games until at least March 15 when the state’s current restriction of 100 people at large gatherings is expected to increase. Student-athletes will receive two vouchers for their home games. Visiting fans and the public are not allowed to attend.
De Braga’s just happy that her girls to get to compete in front of the small home crowd.
“I’m just anxious to see how game day plays out this weekend with the guidelines in place,” she said. “It will be different for sure with limited fans, masks and the distancing, but the girls are ready and we are grateful to play.”
The boys and girls soccer teams face Elko and Dayton on Friday and Saturday with each program taking turns at home. The girls team hosts Elko at 2 p.m. and travels to Dayton on Saturday. The boys team hosts Dayton on Saturday at 11:45 a.m. after traveling to Elko on Friday.
The Lady Wave golf team begins its schedule on Friday with an icebreaker tournament in Winnemucca before jumping into 3A East tournaments next week in Fernley.
The boys and girls tennis teams face Hug on Saturday with the boys traveling to Reno and the girls hosting the Hawks. Both contests start at 10 a.m.
“After a long wait, our players are very excited to start the season,” Fallon boys tennis coach John Moore said.
The cross-country team’s first meet is March 9 in Fallon.
Oasis Academy’s volleyball and cross-country teams will also kick off their season. The Bighorns volleyball team opens the season on Monday against Coral Academy (Reno) at 5 p.m. at the city-county gym.
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