Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Tampa Prep and Berkeley were unable to host their usual Headmasters’ Challenge. The schools faced off in a condensed version of the challenge known as The Upper School Day of Challenge instead. After a fierce morning of sports and school spirit, the day ended in a draw, with each school winning two games. In all, the day turned out to be very different then previous years to comply with social distancing and other COVID-19 guidelines.

   With soccer and basketball being the only sports played and only varsity teams competing, as the school’s limiting the amount of students in attendance due to social distancing, the Day of Challenge shaped up to be a much smaller and shorter event this year. This provided an obstacle to each schools’ abilities to show off their school spirit.

   “I think there is a big part of a rivalry challenge like this that relies on students showing up and cheering their team on,” said girls soccer coach Derek Segesdy, “Headmasters’ Challenge probably doesn’t feel as important or as big of a contest as it has in previous years.”

   Despite the setbacks, Tampa Prep Students still rose to the occasion to cheer on their teams.

   “Tampa Prep spirit is on display. This one’s for you alumni,” Plummer posted on his Instagram page.  

   In the soccer games, the girls’ soccer team lost to Berkeley with a score of 8-0. However; The Tampa Prep boys’ soccer team succeeded in beating Berkeley, with a score of 4-2. 

   “The game is always an intense one,” said soccer coach Douglas Smith. “I think there are things we can take away and still improve on, but overall I am very happy with the result.” 

   The girls’ basketball team also clenched a victory for Tampa Prep, ending the game with a score of 34-31. The boys’ basketball team was not able to do the same and lost to Berkeley with a score of 57-22.

   “We were not expecting to lose, but we knew it would be a fight. Obviously it ended up being not much of a fight,” said boys’ basketball player, Zach Carlson (‘22), “We tried our best.”

   With no tie-breaking competition, this makes the Tampa Prep score for every Headmasters’ Challenge 4-11-2. With this result, the intense Tampa Prep and Berkeley rivalry is likely to go on for many years to come and Tampa Prep will continue to push themselves to become greater players.

   “Next time we play them we will be a lot better,” said Carlson, “Just because we know their strengths and weaknesses and we will be able to prepare for that.”