Some may see it as a suspicious coincidence. Others may see it as unreasonable and others just couldn’t care less. Whatever the case, it’s difficult to overlook the proximity between Prom and Spring sporting events. Could this just be a very unfortunate coincidence, or did Baseball and Lacrosse coaches have a strategy in scheduling these games so close to what many Seniors consider the defining night of their final High School days, one-last hoorah, if you will.
As the big night, April 24, came closer and closer, students starting making mental note of the date, thus noticing near conflicts with their spring sports.
Boys Varsity lacrosse had two games in Ohio. The first of those games was on the Saturday after prom, causing them to wake up at a time that would be early for just a standard weekend morning to play, arguably one of the best teams in the country in Upper Arlington. They fell to the Golden Bears by a tally of 21-6.
“It was kind of weird and surprising I guess”, said Junior Brent Prior. “They’re one of the best in the country and we had to play them the day after our whole team was at Prom just the night before.”
As for the Varsity Baseball team; same story. However their double-header was not scheduled until a mere two weeks before prom. They were required to be at the field at 10:15 Saturday morning for a 12:00 start against Southfield Lathrup. Coach Don Watchowski was still confident in his team’s ability regardless.
“I know my guys were ready to play,” said Watchowski. “No matter the situation, I know they always want to come out and compete.”
As unfair as some athletes might view these issues, Girls Lacrosse might have caught the most brutal end of the scheduling coincidence. While many girls were evidently taking that Friday off from school, the Birmingham Women’s Lacrosse team was prepping for a 3:15 at The Academy of Sacred Heart.
“Not only did we have to attend school on the day of prom,” said junior Kate Murray, “the majority of our team was racing straight from the game to hair appointments, then pictures.”
Some coaches have taken idea of scheduling near Prom and gone completely against it. The Seaholm track team did everything but benefit from having meet the day after the 2008 Seaholm Prom.
“We had a meet last year the day after prom,” said junior Zach Hill. “Everyone that showed up did terrible because Prom almost forces you to stay out pretty late as it is.”
“This is exactly why I don’t play school sports”, said Senior Sean Larsen, who plays travel hockey. “I got to sleep in a reasonable amount that Saturday and got to skate later that day without feeling tired.”
