Every season, WCHS athletes look forward to stepping onto the fields for the first practices of the spring sports season. This year, however, one unexpected competitor has dominated the field: the leftover snow and ice from February’s snowstorm. The unmelted snow has become the unmatched competitor this season, by delaying practices and moving tryouts indoors.
Despite not officially being on any team roster, the snow pile has proven to be a powerful opponent for sports like baseball, softball and lacrosse, occupying the fields long after the storm ended.
“I was really hoping that we would be outside for tryouts,” WCHS junior and varsity baseball player Justin Time said. “But the snow was still sitting on the field like it had permanent ownership.”
The snow’s athletic dominance began shortly after the February storm, when freezing temperatures prevented the remaining mounds of ice from melting. What started as a simple snowbank quickly transformed into what students have called “an undefeated defensive wall.”
“During the first couple of days of tryouts, we were forced to play indoors,” WCHS senior and varsity girls lacrosse player Marsha Mellow said. “Every day we checked the field, and every day the snow was still winning. Playing lacrosse in the basketball gym was a challenge.”
The snow’s performance has drawn attention from the athletic director, who has monitored the situation closely while waiting for the fields to fully clear.
“Unexpectedly, the unmelted snow has been our best athlete this month,” WCHS athletic director Jesse Smith said. “It has shown remarkable endurance.”
Despite the snow’s dominant run, spring athletes remain hopeful that warmer weather will eventually end its undefeated season and allow teams to have normal practices.
“I am always up for a challenge, and I respect the effort,” Mellow said. “But I think it is time for the snow to retire.”
While most athletes train year-round to improve their skills, the snow pile has relied on a much simpler strategy of refusing to melt.
“I have been preparing for this since I was just a small snowflake in the sky,” the snow said. “I saw the bare grass fields and knew it was my time to shine. Nobody has been able to compete with me. I am ready to face my biggest competition: the sun.”
