With the sports calendar slowly walking toward normalcy with practices and competitions slated to ramp up this week, Liberty and Freedom have joined the party too with the start of their first practices last Thursday.

It was the first official day that programs from both schools could take place in workouts for the winter season due to the coronavirus pandemic, as they started a few days later than most schools, but were able to get back into the swing of things last week.

By starting last Thursday, it gave coaches an extra three days of practice that are valuable in an already limited window with a shortened winter season.

Freedom basketball coach Joe Stellato used the extra days to assess players for tryouts, which helped the team get ahead of their normal curve, but at a price to the program.

“We usually have between 40-50 freshmen tryout and this year we had 12,” Stellato said. “I’m sure the coronavirus played a part in our numbers and families wanting to take precautions. Without so many players to evaluate, it did help us get ahead of schedule at practice and working on things. We lost 11 seniors from last year, so we’re very young and inexperienced, so everyday that we can get ahead helps.”

Freedom wrestling coach Dante Terenzio was happy to be back on the mats as well, but acknowledged the time off has his group behind schedule.

“The kids are excited to finally be in the room practicing,” said Terenzio. “We had a nice week of conditioning, drilling and some live. They’re working hard. We’ve been set back in a couple ways. First and foremost, we missed valuable time for development which will hurt us this season. Secondly, our conditioning is not where it should be.”

With most of the East Penn Conference getting underway this week with basketball and wrestling matches taking place, Liberty and Freedom will have to wait another week before they satisfy the allotted amount of practice dates before taking part in competition.

Freedom’s basketball team is set to open the season on Jan 21 against Easton, while Liberty opens with Northampton on the same night.

Even with both programs behind schedule, they will be able to play the 10 league contests as everyone else in the conference.

Liberty head coach Nigel Long enters his first year as head coach of the program and knows that times are difficult, but understands it’s the same for every program.

“We’re thankful and grateful for the opportunity to play foremost,” said long. “The kids are excited and we’re just focusing on being better each day. That’s what we’ve been stressing because tomorrow isn’t guaranteed to anyone.”

On the wrestling side of things, Freedom is set to open on Jan. 20 against Easton, while Liberty is scheduled to take on Northampton the same night.

Both teams are scheduled to wrestle five dual meets.

As we all know, everything is subject to change in this climate of a pandemic and everyone is taking it one day at a time.

“There’s certainly going to be challenges,” said Stellato. “Having to wear masks during competition makes it harder on the kids and it’s harder for them to hear me too, but there are worse things in life right now. We all just want to see everyone get through the season healthy.”