Coaches Weigh in on Struggles With the Pandemic.
BY: ASHLEY BIUNDO
Editor-In-Chief
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed sports this semester and the NJCAA has moved all fall sports into the spring semester.
According to the STLCC Archer’s website, “Men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer, and women’s volleyball will all have to wait until the spring to begin their primary seasons. Baseball and softball’s seasons will also be played in the spring as in previous years. Volleyball, along with men’s and men’s basketball, will begin their seasons in January. Baseball and softball will kick off their 2021 campaigns in February, while men’s and women’s soccer will wait until April before starting game competition.”
The pre-season was cut short in November due to rising cases of COVID-19.
There may be changes in the spring semester due to cases and the pandemic. Baseball head coach, Scott Goodrich said that in January they may not have everyone at practice due to being indoors.
“We are overly cautious,” he said. “We are excited with the group of players. [We] have a good group coming back. We have some transferring and [first years]. [We] think we will do very well this season. [We’re] having a successful season.”
Basketball won’t begin their season until Jan. 20 according to men’s basketball head coach Terry Collins.
“We are looking forward to competing in spring. The NJCAA pushed the basketball season back a couple months. It usually begins in November. The post-season tournament will begin in April,” Collins said. “Unfortunately, due to the rise in coronavirus cases in the St. Louis area, the college decided to shut down fall practice on Nov. 21. So, there will be a huge gap between the fall workouts and the anticipated resumption of activity on Jan. 4. Our players will have to exercise discipline and creativity to maintain our current level of conditioning. How we respond to that challenge will go a long way to determining any future success.”
The athletic department has been doing the best they can during the pandemic and the players appreciate it, said Collins.
“I would like to commend Athletic Director Mike Overman for keeping our athletic programs operating during these challenging times. Perhaps we may not be allowed to play if the pandemic-related difficulties persist,” he said. “However, we have enjoyed the opportunities we have had. If we do get the chance to play this season, we expect to compete for a championship on the court and continue to build the habits needed for success in the classroom,” he said.
Collins also credits his assistants for helping athletes through the pandemic.
“I would like to publicly acknowledge my two great assistants, Miles Nettles (a former STLCC player) and Evan Pedersen (who played at St. Louis University), for helping guide the players through these difficult days. As well, our players have embraced the college mandates for safe return to play. Finally, I would like to cite the new director of the Academic Support Center on the Forest Park Campus, Kim Crank. She and her staff have gone “above and beyond” to help our players adjust to the online classes. Since our practices are held at Forest Park, most of the players have been doing their online work on the Forest Park Campus and many of them turned to the Academic Support Center for invaluable assistance.”
