By KEVIN SANTOS
Brandon Brunson Ramapo College Track and Field is an upcoming senior and wants to keep his exercise routine up so that he can compete in his last year of college. During the time of Covid-19, the campus is closed and athletes have to keep up their regimen on their own.
“I keep up with my training everyday other day such as going for a run around my neighborhood or going to my track at my high school,” Brunson said. “Sometimes I workout by myself in my house by doing calisthenics such as pushup, situps and pullups. Also I look up workouts on what I can do inside or outside my house by myself which helps as well. Just hoping I run my senior year.”
The world is in desperate time with the whole Covid19 virus, and college athletes are struggling to stay competitive and in shape.
The Covid 19 pandemic this Spring has with everything shut down schools, business and people are locked in their homes to maintain social distancing and prevent the spread of the virus, with only a little bit of movement. But what about college athletes, how are they still training if the gym, fields, among other activities closed for the time being? Does that mean there will be no sports this year and athletes will have to wait till next year if possible to return back to normal?
With Covid-19 in full effect, all of the sports world is canceled or suspended due to the virus going around the world. The sports world started canceling and suspended seasons around the end of February and beginning of March. That’s two full months of no sports. So how are athletes still training keeping in shape? This isn’t the first time that the sports world has been postponed due to what’s going in the world. The other reason has been when World War One happened back in 1914.
According to the Orlando Sentinel, “For many student athletes, the structure around athletics is their life and that structure can be very protective,” said Dr. Brian Hainline, NCAA chief medical officer. “When they no longer have that structure and all of sudden they’re home for long periods of time, sometimes the homes aren’t as nice for them as the campuses. It’s really challenging.”
The NCAA stated on March 30, “That the Division 1 Council on Monday voted to allow schools to provide spring sport students athletes an additional season of competition and an extension of their period of eligibilty.”
So looks like due to Covid-19 that NCAA is allowing athletes to provide an extra season. This is a good way for athletes to compete again especially for athletes that are entering their senior year. For every incoming senior they have one common goal is to finish their college careers.
Being a college athlete is more than just the training and reaching a max level at competition. It’s not about wins or losses or who came in first or last; it’s the bond that players build with teammates.
And college athletes can’t do that due to Covid 19.For athletes, it feels like their world just ended.
“I know you guys are missing the track and to be honest I miss you guys to and these are hard times, but we have to be careful out there but to keep you guys busy,” said Coach Ackeme Ramapo Track and Field coach in a interview. “I came up with some in house circuits and if possible go for a little run outside but for now rest up and make sure to practice social distancing and most importantly stay safe.”
Ramapo Athletes Hopeful About the Fall
For Ramapo College sent messages and emails to the athletes with a little guidebook on how to be protected and some stay at home workouts to keep them fit and entertained.
“I feel that the ramapo college track season will resume in the spring next year. I hope that it comes back sooner rather than later,” said Brunson in a interview. “Since my junior season was cut short I want to go out on the track and end my track career on a high note. If my track career is over than I wont have any regrets because I put my best foot forward. I know that we got a year of eligibility back, but a lot of people wont come back. The reason being is becasue their lives will not line up with track after their 4 years of college. If it is truly over, then I had a good time while it lasted.
This pandemic affects other athletes, not just at Ramapo. Take Matt Schnoll as for example, a young student football player athlete at Montclair State his season might be canceled as football starts up in the fall. But around this time football spring training starts but since of Covid-19 its cancelled.
As for Schnoll, routines before Covid 19 have changed little. It has really set back Schnoll on what he is use to. As a football athlete during spring training you are required to report in the locker room at 5am for their daily schedule.
“The way I see it either I have my senior year or they have to give me another year of eligibility,” said Schnoll. “I have to be in school for a year and half anyway so either way I’ll get my senior season, and what I do to stay in shape is I jump rope, lift weights, and do tons of core daily.”
Another former student athlete gave up on being a college athlete and decided to join the army instead. Max Vigiotti decided to to give up playing baseball at Felican College. The decision came upon when they canceled the baseball season and Vigiotti just couldn’t stand around doing nothing. He wanted to stay activite and the army would be best for him.
“I do miss baseball alot but I couldn’t stand around doing nothing. It was driving me crazy so I decided to just join the Army,” said Vigiotti in an interview. “I come from a long line of family that joined the Army and I felt like it was the best thing for me and leaving college was hard but I can always go back. I just think helping people was more important than playing baseball.
As for the fall it’s too early for decision right now. Anything can happen from now to the fall so Ramapo and other colleges have not decided whats going to happen.
I liked the quotes from multiple athletes on how the virus has affected their lives. You could maybe add some more background info on how the virus is affected colleges across the country.