Matthew Pearce is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Fountain Hills High School for AZPreps365.com

The COVID-19 virus touched Arizona for the first time early in January 2020.

It would go on to change daily life for cities all across the world.

Restaurants closed.

Schools were forced to move online.

Athletics came to a halt.

Fountain Hills High School was no exception.

FHHS Athletic Director and Dean of Students Evelynn Wynn joined the Falcons in July of 2021, just as the AIA started lifting restrictions.

“I remember having to shut down the football team right when I joined the community, which was rough,” Wynn said. “It was 6 or 7 p.m., and I was calling all the families saying, ‘Hi, I am the new AD. Also, your kid has to be quarantined.’ It was a rough start.”

As of December 2025, the World Health Organization reported 7.1 million COVID-related deaths, with the United States claiming more deaths than any other country, at 1.2 million deaths. John Hopkins University reported 33,102 deaths in Arizona until March 10, 2023, when it stopped recording new data.

Nearly six years have passed since the COVID-19 outbreak, which began when Arizona Gov. Douglas A. Ducey implemented a state of emergency on March 11, 2020. This would be the beginning of similar declarations coming into effect across the United States, as President Donald Trump implemented a national state of emergency two days later.

On March 14, 2020, Fountain Hills Unified School District Superintendent Robert Allen informed the Fountain Hills community that all schooling would be closed for a minimum of one week starting on March 16.

This closure would extend far beyond the initial week. Students finished the 2019-2020 school year online. Athletics and activities for the remainder of that school year were also cancelled.

Wynn noticed more than just practices getting canceled, though. Wynn said she saw students' biggest challenges through her role as dean.

“Routine is important for kids and once that was disrupted, getting back to a normal expectation for consistency and structure was difficult,” Wynn said.

The biggest challenge Wynn noticed was behavioral issues that stemmed from students not being used to following school rules or a consistent routine, she said.

A 2021 meta-analysis of 519 studies led by Isabella Lina de Laia Almeida and colleagues at the Federal University of Uberlandia in Brazil found that self-isolation in childhood and adolescence can directly affect adulthood. They found a strong correlation between social isolation and anxiety or depression in children and adolescents. More specifically, an isolated childhood can lead to a sedentary adulthood.

For student athletes, their challenges through the COVID-19 pandemic were related to their friendships, routine and events, senior volleyball player Lilly Miller said.

“It was hard being separated from all my teammates and friends at school,” Miller said. “I definitely noticed myself and friends go through challenges. It was hard.”

A 2018 study from the University of Georgia showed teens who have a consistent routine, such as regular meal times, bed times and after school activities, are more likely to report positive well-being and have a higher chance to attend college as young adults.

Due to how contagious COVID is, the risk of spreading forced FHHS to cancel major events such as prom during the 2020 school year. This meant the majority of students were forced into isolation away from the social atmosphere they are used to.

These effects of this have been felt worldwide. The World Health Organization reported a 25% increase in prevalence of anxiety and depression in March 2022. The WHO attributed these issues to social isolation linked to people's inability to work, go to school and seek support from loved ones.

Varsity girls volleyball head coach and teacher Olivia Long said there are multiple small things she has noticed that have not reverted back to pre-COVID norms – in general and at FHHS.

“In volleyball, teams used to switch sides for every set but that never came back after COVID,” Long said. “Also, it was kind of weird playing at other schools with all the distance mandates and the lack of spectators killed the competitive spirit in the gym.”

Long said teams also saw less players trying out and participating during the lockdowns; however, this has recovered over the years following the pandemic. She also said people are more conscious of their health now.

“When a kid is sick now they know to stay home,” Long said. “Rather than in the past, when we have had multiple kids miss time, which throws off the season.”

The National Federation of State High School Associations, or NFHS, partnered with PlayOn! Sports to give free cameras to high schools who request. This allowed Fountain Hills to live stream events through the NFHS Network.

While this originally was for during the pandemic, it has still benefited FHHS. It continues to live stream every event it can, Wynn said. This has allowed family members to watch their student athletes play from anywhere.

On March 25, 2021, Governor Ducey lifted any remaining restrictions on businesses and schools. Athletics in Arizona are back in full swing as everyone continues to move forward from the pandemic. COVID-19’s effects are still under study, with more information coming out over time.

“It’s been great to be back and play the last few seasons with all my friends,” Miller said. “It was a weird time. I am just happy to have things back to normal.”