In 95-degree heat, New Mexico prep athletes hang tough behind masks

The Santa Fe New Mexican ^ | June 10, 2021 | Bill Webber

[CedarDave]

ALBUQUERQUE — With Thursday’s temperatures creeping into the high 90s and humidity levels hovering at 4 percent by midafternoon, New Mexico Activities Association administrator Scott Owen pulled out his smartphone, punched in a few numbers and said, “Eighty-eight degrees.”

“That’s good, 88 degrees — I don’t think so,” said Evan Bloodworth, a junior at St. Michael’s and one of nearly 200 high school players on hand for Thursday’s opening rounds of the 2021 state tennis championships. “Whatever thermometer they’re using, it’s at least 100 on the courts.”

If Thursday’s sweltering heat during the tournament proved anything, it’s that it really didn’t have much of an impact on the kids. Not a single player defaulted on a match; not a single entrant collapsed from dehydration; not a single one spent time on a padded massage table in the shade overlooking Academy’s 16 courts.

... Delayed a month from its usual mid-May time slot thanks to the lingering impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the four extra weeks pushed the statewide event back into the dangerous heat of mid-June — a time made worse this year by wildfires in southeast Arizona ...

Ah, masks.

According to Public Education Department spokeswoman Judy Gibbs Robinson, an agreement between the NMAA and the Governor’s Office says anyone affiliated with youth sports must adhere to COVID-19-safe guidelines that no longer apply to the general public. Student-athletes in all sports have been required to wear face coverings at practice and in competition, as are any fans who attend NMAA events.

Those guidelines will remain in place through the end of the spring sports season on June 26.

McDermott said the biggest challenge to wearing a mask is the simple act of keeping it over the nose and mouth.

“This heat makes it even harder to breathe, ...”

[CedarDave]

I guess we should all celebrate that no young athletes collapsed with heat stress or worse heat stroke. Temperatures today in southeast New Mexico were 108 degrees or higher. Thankfully, some coaches were pulling out of outdoor events due to heat. But for those still competing, masks must be worn which in itself is child abuse in my opinion, especially as there is little (very little) chance of transmission outdoors especially for children.

[CedarDave]

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[myerson]

If our ancestors 1000 years ago were as stupid as modern humans we would have gone extinct by now.

[BobL]

“In 95-degree heat, New Mexico prep athletes hang tough behind masks”

“In 95-degree heat, Texas prep athletes practice without masks”

You get what you VOTE (or not vote) for.

[backwoods-engineer]

Insane stupidity, or the intentional destruction of western civilization. Maybe a little of both. May the Most High judge EVERYONE who told these lies, made these kids wear masks. All of them deserve damnation, it seems to me.

[Seruzawa]

95 degrees in New Mexico? Balmy. Wait until July.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

A brain is a terrible thing to waste.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***the high 90s and humidity levels hovering at 4 percent***

No sweat! Wonderful weather! Try weather in the Ozarks! 97 degrees and 70% humidity! Already heat stroke warnings out!

Why Dad, in 1962, pulled us out of good New Mexico schools and brought us to the hotter than three shades of hell Ozarks we still can’t understand. He had never lived here before. We did not even have AC until 1970.

When living in Farmington NM back in 1975, I left the town to visit the Ozarks. The weather in Farmington was 98 degrees and 12% humidity. I didn’t notice it at all.

Two days later I am in Clinton, Arkansas and a family member wants to go into town. The temp was 98 degrees and 70% humidity.

When I walked out of the store it was like a hundred fists hit me! I almost went down due to the heat!

[shanover]

The masking is just as bad as the burka.

[Allegra]

This is crazy. People should not be breathing their own exhaust while doing exercise, especially cardio.

There are still too many people who get off to making people wear masks. Shame on those jerks.

[JerryBlackwell]

two years ago it was common knowledge you don’t play sports with a mask on....Now? I shudder to think the damage these kids are doing to themselves

[jocon307]

This is stupid, and more to the point, dangerous. Don’t any of these kids have moms? Because I’d break your arm if you tried to make my kid do athletics in 95 degree heat in a mask. Yeah, even if it’s dry heat.

[wjcsux]

I can relate to that one! I was born and raised in southern Arizona, I spent a couple of years in Huntsville Alabama. Glad to be back in the NM desert in spite of the wicked governor we currently have.

[wildcard_redneck]

Virtue signaling is ad for your health.

[The MAGA-Deplorian]

If our ancestors 1000 years ago were as stupid as modern humans we would have gone extinct by now.

"Take another pint!"

[Secret Agent Man]

Compliant Idiots

Theres one thing about trying to keep things peaceful and orderly

Then theres just idiocy

[metmom]

They make them sound like heroes or something for muscling through that heat with their masks on.

The people who are demanding it are idiots.

[cyclotic]

Idiots call it hanging tough, smart people refer to it as child abuse

[Pearls Before Swine]

4% humidity ? A dry heat.

[The_Media_never_lie]

Wearing a mask on a 95 degree tennis court is an act of submission.