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Hot Corner: Live action returns

By Rich Palzewic
Sports Editor


DE PERE – I was originally supposed to cover Notre Dame Academy’s football game in Kaukauna last Friday, but as you’ve probably heard by now, the Tritons’ moved their season to the spring because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Instead of traveling to Kaukauna, I headed to West De Pere, which took on Hortonville in a Bay Conference matchup.

Rich Palzewic

In the Sept. 25 edition of The Press Times, one of the stories was a preview on Notre Dame’s upcoming season.

A day before the paper hit your hands, it was announced the Tritons’ season was temporarily put on hold.

Then, a few days later, the school announced it was moving football and boys’ soccer to the alternate fall season next March.

Sometimes, that’s the nature of a weekly paper – something you print today might be outdated tomorrow.

West De Pere was coming off an 11-1 season, while Hortonville finished 9-2 last year.

To say the game was exciting is an understatement.

You can read the game recap by CLICKING HERE, but the contest came down to the final seconds – what a way for live sports to return.

Earlier this year on March 12, I covered the Crandon High School girls’ basketball team in the WIAA tournament at the Resch Center in Green Bay for another publication in the Multi Media Channels (MMC) family.

After that, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and everything was canceled.

I next covered a live game July 1 at Capital Credit Union Park in Ashwaubenon, the home of the Green Bay Booyah.

I also took pictures at the Green Bay Packers’ first home game Sept. 20 against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field in an empty stadium.

Last Friday’s game was comfortable, and I felt safe.

I chatted with Doug Ritchay from Fox 11, West De Pere Principal Russ Gerke and Athletic Director Scott Eggart in the end zone – of course, with our masks on.

There was a decent-sized crowd watching, and the pep band was socially distanced.

I was able to take pictures in either end zone, but I didn’t move too much.

Every touchdown was scored in the end zone I stood in, except the final score of the game.

After the game, I was able to go onto the field to chat with both coaches and a player.

I commend the administration at West De Pere for allowing me to do so in a safe environment.

A few days after the game, it was confirmed to me the West De Pere school district was pausing its sports until at least Oct. 19 due to high numbers of COVID-19 cases in the community.

I’m hoping our numbers improve so we can all get back to viewing live sports again.

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