Syracuse, N.Y. -- As a standout football player and wrestler at Central Valley Academy, Andy Klosner has enjoyed his share of athletic glory.
This fall, he added one he never would have expected to that list.
Klosner scored a goal off a penalty kick for CVA. While that feat alone might seem rather mundane, it has to be evaluated in the context of his soccer experience before this fall.
Which, in a word, was none.
“(If) you talked to me a month ago and told me I’d be scoring a goal on the soccer field, I’d have never believed you,” he said.
But golf courses, cross country trails, field hockey turf and soccer pitches have turned into fields of new dreams for high school athletes this fall.
Klosner, a senior, would normally be piling up yardage and touchdowns on the gridiron right now. Football, volleyball and cheerleading, however, have been moved by the state to fall sports season II in March because of their high risks of spreading coronavirus.
In Section III, swimming was pushed back to that window as well because of difficulties with finding available pools.
Those delays have opened loads of free time for thousands of athletes, many of whom are testing their limits by trying other fall sports in which they have limited or no experience.
“I wasn’t going to back down to any challenges,” Klosner said of his decision to try soccer. “I felt like I was athletic enough to make a decent defender. I feel like I’ve picked up on the game pretty quickly.”
Klosner and his peers may get a chance to return to their normal activities in fall season II. Until then, here’s a look at some others who are taking a shot at different sports.
West Genesee’s Mia Kehoskie was a cheerleader last year but now runs cross country.
Mia Kehoskie, freshman, West Genesee
Postponed sport: Cheerleading
New sport: Cross country
The transition: Kehoskie has a running background as a modified cross country runner in seventh grade.
“Over the summer, I ran a little bit to stay in shape, not knowing what would happen in the fall season.” she said. “I think the hardest thing we had to do was run up hills for 40 minutes straight. The mileage is a lot, about six or seven (miles). It’s a great way to stay in shape. I really enjoy running.”
Logan Clark, senior, Mt. Markham
Postponed sport: football
New sport: soccer
The transition: Clark, a defender, said he had never played before and his only experience in the sport was watching his sister compete.
“I guess I knew what to do. I guess I’m not very good at doing it," he said. “For the first week, it was a lot of conditioning. I barely touched the ball. There was some times I was debating (whether it was a good idea) A lot of it was mental. I figured in the end it would pay off and I’d get to play with all of my friends. It’s not even being good, because I’m not that good. It’s just having fun."
Gavin Griffin, sophomore, Hannibal
Postponed sport: football
New sport: Cross country
The transition: He said he’s never run cross country before.
“It’s always been in the back of my mind to run. A lot of my friends do it,” he said. “I decided I’d rather do a school sport than play basketball at my house every day. The transition hasn’t been that hard. I have good endurance. When it comes to meets, I’m more than prepared. It’s kind of a pride thing for me now. I see some of my friends finish ahead of me, I’m like, ‘I can beat those guys. I love competing. I love a challenge.”
Caryn Gagnon, junior, Cazenovia
Postponed sport: Volleyball
New sport: Cross country
The transition: “It kind of drives me to be a lot more competitive. It focuses me more to stay in shape than if I do it (run) alone. It’s definitely a lot different than volleyball. I figured it was going to be hard, but I kind of wanted to challenge myself. I’m happy I’m on the team and people have accepted me.”
Matthew Dorrance played football for Cicero-North Syracuse last season and is running cross country this fall.
Matthew Dorrance, freshman, C-NS
Postponed sport: football
New sport: Cross country
The transition: “I never ran. I went out for cross country. I felt like if I didn’t do anything, I wouldn’t be in shape for the football season in the spring this year. In the beginning, it was pretty tough. But my running and endurance has improved a lot. ’m running six miles, and I’m not even out of breath.”
Kathyrn Trumble of Altmar-Parish-Williamstown played volleyball last fall and is trying soccer this season.
Kathryn Trumble, senior, APW
Postponed sport: Volleyball
New sport: Soccer
The transition: Trumble played junior varsity soccer in eighth grade.
“It just made me realize how special high school sports are, and to be able to try new things like this,” she said. “I thought it was important that I don’t sit at home and I do stuff. It definitely was hard. I’m a perfectionist and I like to be good at everything I do. It’s hard to not be as good as everyone else. My teammates are understanding. They definitely help.”
Peyton Munger, senior, Lowville
Postponed sport: Football
New sport: Soccer
The transition: Munger had never played soccer before.
“One of my best friends, he played soccer,” said Munger, a forward. "I thought it’d be fun to hang out with them, do a sport, get conditioned. The coaches have been putting me in a lot, trying to help me. It’s hard to do some of the drills because I don’t have as much coordination with my feet. I try to work around that. I slow it down. I trap the ball always before I pass.
“It feels really weird to be one of the less experienced people on the team. I’m a little out of my comfort zone, but it’s still a fun time. It’s really difficult, but everybody’s been really accepting of me.”
Melissa Button of Mexico normally plays volleyball in the fall. This year, she is playing soccer.
Melissa Button, senior, Mexico
Postponed sport: Volleyball
New sport: Soccer
The transition: “I was kind of nervous because I’ve never played before. But I love sports. That’s all I do. I didn’t want t sit around. I just wanted to try something new. I’ve definitely gotten better. I would consider myself a solid player, but not one of the best. I’m working on foot skills. It’s definitely intimidating, but I’m a very determined person. If I do get beat, I would always hustle to stop the ball.”
Bronte Stahl, senior, Marcellus
Postponed sport: Volleyball
New sport: Soccer
The transition: Stahl, a goalie, played soccer as a youngster.
“There’s definitely some rust,” she said. “The first time I was in, I felt like a deer in headlights. It’s a lot harder because I haven’t done it in so long. The hardest part is the mental side of things, learning where everyone should be, knowing the game. Not having played in five years, that doesn’t come back in a couple weeks. I just have to learn you can’t be perfect all the time.”
Liverpool's Joe Sacco played volleyball last season and is trying golf this year.
Joe Sacco, sophomore, Liverpool
Postponed sport: Volleyball
New sport: Golf
The transition: “I’ve been golfing since I was young. I always went out with my dad. I golfed all summer with my buddy. I was just playing golf for fun. My mindset going into it was to at least play one match. I didn’t have too big hopes. I didn’t know how good I was going to be. It was a little different coming in, playing by the rules, having to hit every single ball. But it ended up in my favor.”
Emma Burke, junior, New Hartford
Postponed sport: Swimming
New sport: Cross country
The transition: “I’ve always ran when I was younger. But I never really ran cross country before. I was running over quarantine, so it put me in shape. I’d run three to five miles every day. It was definitely hard (switching). Swimming, you use a lot of different muscles than you do in running. My calves were really sore. It hurt to make it through practices.
"The races, I feel like you get in a zone. There are definitely some negative thoughts, like “Oh, I wish I was in the pool right now.' But you get over it. It’s very different. In swimming, you can see people around you, but not very well. But in running you can see everyone going by you, or passing somebody. It’s definitely nerve-wracking.”
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Lindsay Kramer is a reporter for the Syracuse Post-Standard and syracuse.com. Got a comment or idea for a story? He can be reached via email at LKramer@Syracuse.com.
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