We are living through a period of immense uncertainty. West High, amongst other schools in the nation, has transitioned to virtual learning amidst the coronavirus pandemic—and a return date to in-person learning is unclear. With the inability to host large social gatherings due to current circumstances, an issue arises within West’s athletic recruitment plans. How can sports recruitment adapt to be conducted in a manner which is safe but also effective during this timeframe?

   West Drill and All Male (WDAAM) have implemented virtual tryouts as a solution to this problem in addition to offering late Summer auditions. Co-captain Alicia Koh (12) elaborates, “The tryout process this year was very different. Auditions normally take place in the pavilion. We’ll stretch, condition, do across-the-floor, and learn and review the tryout routines. This year, everyone who tried out had to submit their tryout videos through Google Classroom. Our captain, Madi Murata, made some awesome YouTube videos to mimic our typical warm up and across-the-floor so that people could still receive helpful instruction and advice, and captains taught the tryout routine through YouTube as well. Although watching and learning dances through a screen just isn’t the same because you can’t feel the same energy that you would otherwise feel in person, tryouts went pretty smoothly!”

   WDAAM invited interested auditionees to join their Google Classroom for additional information, and tryouts took place from April 20th to the 23rd. Taylor Fjellstrom (12), third-year member of the drill team, is hopeful for what’s to come, saying, “I’m honestly really excited to see what the leadership is going to be like next year now that I’m leaving. I saw who’s on the team this year and I’m really excited.”