![]() “While losing a sports season in the bigger picture may not seem like a big deal, in the day-to-day, there’s pain. Skelton’s dedication, along with the player’s earnestness, landed them a profile in the New York Times in 2015. Last season, the team celebrated his 300th win. His coach, Marc Skelton, has led the Panthers for almost two decades. I felt like this was really the year we were going to do something special, not only for the team, but for me individually.” “By the end of the season, we really built that bond of brotherhood. Now, Trail is juggling college applications while keeping up with his remote classes and wondering what this basketball season could have held. This summer, he spent time perfecting his shots with his weaker, left hand in the hopes of winning a title. Along the way, he forged deep friendships with his teammates on the court, during trips to games on the subway, and with celebratory slices of pizza after wins. ![]() Last year, he earned playing time for the first time. ![]() “It’s just a time we all get to hang out with each other.” “I really miss the practices,” said Javin Trail, a senior at Fannie Lou. Individual schools are also trying to find ways to create opportunities not only for physical activity but for the bonds forged through team competitions. While the pandemic still rages, some coaches are trying to push the city to come up with alternative ideas, whether it be outdoor practices or virtual competitions, to help them reach student athletes before the year is over. Without them, finding the motivation to show up for class can be a struggle - something that some New York City students fighting for equal access to sports teams have argued for years. For many of these students, sports were the main reason they showed up to school. Some 45,000 student athletes face a whole school year with no playing time. While some schools in the suburbs took to the fields this fall, New York City school athletic coaches have had their budgets zeroed-out. Their run was cut short when they lost a quarterfinals game by just one point, leaving players with the tantalizing thought that this year, the Panthers could win it all.īut the charismatic team and their coach haven’t played since last spring, when the coronavirus suddenly grabbed hold of New York City, forcing the country’s largest school system to shutter its school buildings and blow the whistle on its sports leagues. This time last year, the boys basketball team at Fannie Lou Hamer Freedom School in the Bronx was working toward an undefeated season in their league and a spot at the citywide playoffs in New York City’s Public School Athletic League. This year, NYC school sports leagues have been left in limbo by the coronavirus pandemic. Coach Marc Skelton last season celebrated his 300th win with the boys basketball team at Fannie Lou Hamer.
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