As we enter August, it is still unknown what sports will look like for the fall; be it recreation or school sports. These activities are usually outlets for kids to develop skills and build friendships, and sadly, they are missing the opportunity to get out and participate with their friends and teammates.
Thomas, Timmy and Tucker Curtis are the children of Mark and Becky Curtis, and all three participate in some type of sport. Thomas is an incoming freshman at GHS, Timmy is going into eighth grade, and Tucker is heading into fifth grade.
Thomas missed his eighth grade baseball season due to Covid-19. “I was really disappointed, but I have been training hard for all of my sports (football, baseball, and basketball),” he said. Looking ahead to fall, he is hoping for some kind of football season as it will be his freshman year and it’s his favorite sport. Mostly he misses being around his friends and just wants to be out competing again.
Other than training and pick-up games with small groups of friends, Thomas started a journalism/play-by-play podcast with a few buddies called “The Pre-Game Pod” on YouTube.
“I watch all Pro-Sports. NFL, NBA, and MLB mostly. I am very excited for the NBA to start back up,” he shared. Outside activities for Thomas include fishing, skateboarding, basketball, and playing catch or tossing a football around. “Covid-19 has affected me in many ways but I try to keep a positive attitude and keep moving forward,” he added.
While his brother Timmy plays football for the Gorham Grizzlies, he also wrestles and has taken an interest in Ultimate Frisbee. He missed out on his second season of Ultimate due to the cancellation of spring sports. According to his mom he was looking forward to learning more about it and developing his skills. Timmy’s favorite outdoor activities during the summer are biking Gorham’s extensive trail network and riding his dirt bike. He also enjoys spending time at Sebago Lake, Ocean Park Beach, and recently went whitewater rafting on the Kennebec River in The Forks.
Photo credit Becky CurtisThe Curtis boys enjoy mini golf over the summer. Shown (left to right) is Timmy (13), Tucker (10), and Thomas (14).
Sports aren’t the only thing keeping Timmy occupied during the pandemic. He has also been volunteering at the GMS garden and became a bit of a local celebrity after being interviewed by Newscenter for his involvement printing 3D ear protectors for front-line workers.
Tucker is a baseball and soccer player. He was very disappointed to miss out on his spring baseball season, but even the young can put a positive spin on the situation: his team “Knowles” had an undefeated 2019 season and with the cancellation, he joked that he also has a 2020 undefeated season as well.
Becky said, “As crazy as sports schedules make our lives I think it is safe to say we all miss the teammates, friendships, exercise, and competition that go along with each season.”
The Sallinen boys, sons of Tom and Stacy Sallinen, are equally involved in sports. Tommy, the oldest, finished his sophomore year during quarantine. He plays football and participates in indoor and outdoor track at GHS. His indoor track season was cut short, spring season was cancelled, and his football season is currently delayed.
While Tommy is missing out on conditioning and weight training this summer through the GHS football program, he has taken the initiative to do some things on his own including running as well as recently joining My-Fit-24 so he can work out with friends. Like his older brother, Matt, who is going into eighth grade, plays football through the Gorham Youth Football program and runs indoor and outdoor track. He also plays baseball through Gorham Little League and loves to ski.
While the high school football season is still up in the air, unfortunately for Matt, the Gorham Youth Football season has been cancelled. Until this point, his mom shared he was hopeful the season would happen. “I’m disappointed again,” he said after learning the news, but said he’ll continue to run outside and ride his bike.
The youngest Sallinen, Nick, is heading to sixth grade and plays soccer for GYSA, basketball, and baseball. Nick was unable to finish his last year of Majors before aging out, his indoor soccer season at the Gorham Sports Complex was also cut short, and there is no word on whether he will be able to play GYSA, but he remains optimistic.
“Quarantine presented many disappointments for my family,” Stacy said. From Nick missing his last year of Majors to Matt missing out on an opportunity to umpire for Little League.
“A huge part of sports and activities is the socialization for both kids and parents. We have all missed this by not sitting on the sidelines,” Stacy said.
Despite all the cancellations and the unknowns they still face, Stacy said there are some silver linings that have followed Covid-19. “We spend time at the lake during the summer. The boys have had lots of time to fish, swim, perfect their cannonball, play whiffle ball and dibble, and just be boys,” she said.
Something to take away from both families, and many others in Gorham who have learned to navigate their time without organized sports…while there have been many disappointments due to the pandemic, these young men have adapted. So while the fall season remains up in the air, kids are resilient and will continue to find ways to fill their days with activity.