Football, soccer, field hockey, girls volleyball and cross country athletes are nearing regular season competition.

But there are only two fall high school sports that have started game action so far.

They are girls tennis and golf. Those two sports are in the limelight in a sporting landscape starved by the COVID-19 era.

Southern Lehigh tennis player Erica Wang is excited to compete, but also has been able to put things in perspective with the pandemic still present in the Lehigh Valley.

“I would love to be able to play my senior season,” Wang said. “There are still some things that I hope to get to experience. And I think we’re going to have a strong lineup this year, so it would be great if I can end my high school career on a high note. However, I think that the safety of our community should be our top priority, so if experts and officials say that it isn’t safe for us to play, then I completely understand and I think we should follow their recommendations. If that does happen though, I hope that we would be able to resume our season sometime in the spring.”

It’s definitely not an ordinary sports season. Just ask Emmaus junior golfer Matt Zerfass.

“This season has been very different,” Zerfass said. “When we take the van and transport to matches as a team, we must wear masks. And when we are at the matches, we have to social distance and wear masks occasionally, which is uncomfortable as all of us are very close with one another. Coach (Mo) Bryan has done such an amazing job with keeping up with regulations like taking temperatures and things like that. But I know that’s different for her, too.”

Saucon Valley senior tennis player Julia Hernandez is thrilled to get a chance to finish out her high school career.

“Playing tennis during my senior year is important to me because I get to share so many memorable experiences with my close friends. And even if we lose a match, we have each other’s backs and are there to support one another. I have grown very close to my teammates and I hope to share one last season with them,” Hernandez said.

Wang was a first-team lehighvalleylive.com All-Area selection last season. She teamed with her sister Evelyn to win the District 11 Class 3A doubles title last year.

Even in tennis where competitors are socially distanced, adjustments have to be made due to the coronavirus.

“We only have two matches per week this year and we aren’t able to play with some of the EPC schools, but other than that our season is pretty much the same, but with a lot of precautions,” Wang said. “We have to have our temperatures checked every day before practice, we have to stay socially distanced and we have to wear our masks whenever we’re not hitting. In matches, each person has their own set of balls rather than sharing between opponents to prevent spreading the virus, and we have to keep track of our own balls.”

Zerfass finished second in the District 11 Class 3A boys golf tournament last season.

“I think I have improved from last year for certain,” Zerfass said. “I’ve gained a lot of distance, which helps. But most importantly, I’ve matured as a golfer, teammate and person. I have become much smarter playing golf, specifically in course management and other things. I think one of the most important things I’ve improved over the year is my mental game.”

“I’ve got a lot of strong faith in God and trust that golf is not the only thing I have in life,” Zerfass continued. “I’m out there playing for Him most importantly and it doesn’t matter to me what anyone else thinks about me or how they see me. I’m so beyond blessed to just be able to play the game. My motto has really been no matter what I shoot or how the day goes, I win either way because I’m playing for something more important than a medal or trophy.”

Hernandez, who was a first-team All-Area selection by lehighvalleylive.com as a junior, won the Colonial League No. 1 singles tournament last season.

She’s happy to be back on the court with her teammates and her friends.

“It has been exciting for the team and I to be going to practices since we have gotten very close over our high school career and playing matches together has been really fun,” Hernandez said. “Hopefully we can have a season to continue to grow our friendship through playing a sport we all enjoy.”

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Josh Folck may be reached at jfolck@lehighvalleylive.com.