By Kenna Kaneshiro
Staff Writer

Swimming and water polo seasons are in action this school year, however, COVID-19 restrictions and new regulations still apply.

“We’re a sport that has to be unmasked, so we don’t have that luxury of being able to have something to mitigate the disease,” Head Coach of Boys Waterpolo, Swimming, and Diving, Kaz Yoshiwara said.

Guidelines have been ensured by Mid-Pacific that apply to all student athletes, which includes wearing masks on the pool deck, and maintaining some type of social distance while swimmers are in the pool.

“Just the fact that we’re unmasked, and especially with water polo, how it’s definitely a close and a contact sport, that makes it challenging and when they start to put in different procedures and protocols it usually affects them and their ability to practice,” Yoshiwara said.

The swim team has been split into two separate cohorts, labeled A and B to implement an ability to social distance throughout the practice.

“Instead of it being just one big group, it’s kind of good that we’re split into little sections and cohorts because the coach can help you more, and more one on one time,” freshman Alexia Roberts said.

Junior Varsity and Varsity swimmers, both boys and girls, began the season on December 13, and continued till their last scheduled swim meet on Friday, February 11.

“We had to space it out more so there’s less people in your lane,” Junior Sebastien Kiyabu said.

“You have more room to swim, instead of swimming in a cramped spot, where a few times you’ll have to move over a little bit when you’re trying to swim a specific stroke,” he said.

Water polo players began in the fall, where the boys’ season started on Sept. 7, and ended on Oct. 22. The girls’ water polo season will begin in the spring.

“Since we can only have a limited number of people in the pool, we don’t really have as much pool time,” sophomore Hoapili Kukea-Shultz said.

Swim meets have been limited to no more than two spectators per participating swimmer, and have been broadcasted online by the hosting school.

“For us in particular were also dealing with the issue of time and space, but I think with teams who have the time and space, it’s a good chance to kind of implement different training tactics and ideas,” said Yoshiwara

“It forced me to adjust the way I try to plan for the swim season, it allows you to be a little creative,” he said.