Wednesday, May 12, 2021

Brendan Glenister: COVID sports-playing guru/quick-change artist

Brendan Glenister, jersey quick-
change artist, here suiting up
for the Vikings' lacrosse match
against Cathedral Catholic
Wed., Tues., May 11.
(Photo by Ed Piper)


By Ed Piper

Brendan Glenister was busy warming up for the Vikings' May 11 lacrosse match at home with Cathedral Catholic.

It was number 16's fourth sport during this special COVID-induced overlapping of "Season 1" and "Season 2", whatever those mean, since January.

"He emailed each of his coaches," said his father, as we talked in the announcer's booth atop Edwards Stadium before the match. "I told him, 'If they don't know what you want to do, they can't help you.'"

So, after wrestling in the La Jolla wrestling team's first dual meet at Hoover High April 14, the younger  Glenister found out San Diego High didn't have a wrestler near his weight for the next wrestling meet April 21. Bowing out nicely from that competition--informing his wrestling coach, Ryan Lindenblatt--the sophomore segued to one of his other sports to maximize sports and playing time.

Brendan, who started high school as a bright-eyed freshman a year ago, before COVID, in wrestling, has made appearances in swimming, JV water polo, as well as wrestling, in addition to lacrosse.

"Yeah, I've played a lot of sports," he said when a reporter commented on his pan-sports participation in April and May.

What's his favorite? Whatever sport he's playing at the time, it would seem. He has maximized CIF's granting of permission to play as many sports as possible with COVID protocols in effect, jumbling things up but also making this high-participation rate in multiple sports at the same time possible.

What, not satisfied with school sports? Brendan's dad said he has also mixed in some club play on the side.

The sports-playing enthusiast hasn't seemed to suffer worse for the wear, jumping among the four sports in school and club.

Would he do it over? Thank God, COVID, hopefully, is only here for one time. May the pandemic rest in history, once it has been vanquished. Out with the masks, but, man, this year of multi-sports will be a memory to share with the kids and grandkids in the future.

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