“Playing On”

In part of the 33rd Eddie Adams Workshop, I covered the North Baltimore High School football team and what it means to play during the 2020 season during the coronavirus pandemic. To do so, I followed senior captain Zach Weinandy to understand his experience leading the 26-man team.

To see the video feature for the workshop, the link is available here.

Zach Weinandy poses for a photo outside of his home on September 17, 2020. Weinandy is a tri-sport athlete, playing football, basketball and baseball at North Baltimore High School. After high school, he is looking to go to either Ohio State University or Bowling Green State University.

Zach Weinandy exercises during his health and fitness class on September 17, 2020. Exercising and calesthenics have moved to the hallways of the school to allow for social distancing.

Zach Weinandy talks to the team's athletic trainer, Chelsea Scott, while treating his hand in her office.

North Baltimore Head Coach Wade Ishmael takes Johnnie Hernandez's temperature before heading into practice on September 17, 2020. Temperature and symptom check ups were a staple through the football season to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Charles Grillot jumps onto a pad as Zach Weinandy and his teammates get ready to play Among Us before practice on Thursday.

Zach Weinandy walks with Kaleb Kelley en route to practice on September 17, 2020.

This Eddie Adams Workshop photo was taken on September 17, 2020 in North Baltimore, Ohio during the 33rd Eddie Adams Workshop ©️2020 (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez)

Players are seen using a makeshift foot pedal to operate a water cooler before a game against Van Buren on September 25, 2020. The foot pedal idea, introduced by athletic trainer Chelsea Scott, was implemented to help curb the spread of coronavirus, minimizing contact between players.

Athletic Trainer Chelsea Scott talks to Jeremiah Suman while treating him during the halftime against Van Buren on September 25, 2020.

Zach Weinandy puts his head down after teammate Jeremiah Suhman is injured on the field.

Gunner Kepling makes a catch over a Van Buren defender on September 25, 2020 in Van Buren, Ohio.

Heading into the second leg of the season, the North Baltimore Tigers team grew together despite coronavirus scares during the season.

The sun sets after a brief storm before the football game.

Zach Weinandy leads his team on the field in the last game of his high school career, against Fremont St. Joe Central Catholic.

Gaige Dewitt, masked, watches the game from the sidelines. Dewitt, who suffered a wrist injury in the football game against Arcadia, said he really wishes he was out there to play the last game of the season.

Fans lean on the fence to watch the game.

Athletic Trainer Chelsea Scott treats Charles Grillioit on the sidelines, while two other players sit on the bench during the North Baltimore football game against Fremont St. Joe Central Catholic. Grilliot was the one of the seven members of the less-than-30-man team who were injured by the end of the game against Fremont St Joe Central Catholic. Some players mentioned the lack of conditioning to play on a turf field led to the injuries, as this was the first time any player on the team has been on one.

The North Baltimore football team huddles for the last time during the halftime break against Fremont St. Joe Central Catholic on October 23, 2020.

Zach Weinandy dives for extra-yardage against Fremont St. Joe Central Catholic on October 23, 2020. Weinandy became the 6th person carried off the field after suffering an injury during the play.

The water cooler, that was jury-rigged to provide water to the team by foot pedal, sits broken and drips during the last football game of the season against Fremont St. Joe Central Catholic.

Coach Wade Ishmael embraces freshman Andre Johnson on the sideline during the third quarter against Fremont St. Joe Central Catholic on October 23, 2020