We are the seniors of the Lakeview volleyball team. Lakeview is a part of the Cottonwood school district. Cottonwood among many other towns, including Woodlake, Clarkfield, and Echo, all make up Lakeview.

Being each town is fairly small, everyone is involved in what goes on at the school. Sporting events are especially popular at Lakeview. Everyone was and still is affected by COVID-19.

The class of 2020 was unable to finish most of the year at school, outdoor graduation, spring sports and prom were taken away, along with many other things. This pandemic affected the class of 2021 the most. We are pushing through and trying to make the best of things.

Athletes are extremely grateful for the ability to play sports. Seniors are the most appreciative for this opportunity. Football, cheerleading and cross-country was very lucky and is able to have a certain amount of fans attend the game/meets.

Sports that Lakeview does not have like soccer and girls tennis are also allowed a certain number of fans. Volleyball on the other hand is currently unable to have anyone in the gym except essential personnel.

Us seniors are asking for the ability to have a limited number of fans like the other sports listed. We understand with the pandemic it is a difficult request to accept. Lakeview already has many safety precautions in place for students and faculty who are at school. These precautions are also in place during non school hours while athletes are at practice or in the weight room.

Lakeview’s safety precautions included multiple bathroom cleanings, lots of sanitation, strict mask regulations, along with social distancing. We are not asking for a large amount of fans or any fans from different schools.

Lakeview’s gym is fairly large, with both a visiting and home side of the bleachers. This means there is a lot of room for social distancing. Us seniors mainly want our parents and close family members to be able to attend the home games. We have many reason for this request:

Our names are Trinity Broberg, Jaci Hubbard, Savanna Louwagie, and Kiana Imes. We are very thankful for the ability to play. Toward the beginning of the year the thought of not getting to play scared us all. Being it is our senior year this is our last chance to play on our hometown court. This is also our last chance to play with our fellow student athletes.

Ideally we would love to have the whole gym full of people, but be extremely grateful if our parents were able to attend. These people have supported us and our team through all the years we’ve been playing. Our parents have also contributed to our love of the game.

Our names are Payton Timm, Kailey Hinz, and Kaitlynn Bot. Volleyball has always been a huge part of our lives. We live for the game and the excitement of its healthy competitiveness. Along with the positive atmosphere Lakeview has created in the gym. Lakeview does a great job of keeping it a safe place for the players of both teams. Our fans are always cheering for us. Hearing our fans cheer so loud for us pushes us to do our best.

The feeling of stepping on to the court and hearing people cheer for you is exhilarating. The thought of not hearing that is heartbreaking. Yes we will have our teammates on the bench, but fans make the gym’s atmosphere better.

Us seniors appreciate you taking the time to read this. We hope you take this into consideration about the no fans rule for volleyball.

— Seniors of the Lakeview volleyball team