10 | sports type / the / the standard standard / senior / senior issue issue 2020 2020
Collegiate Chaos Coronavirus creates new issues for seniors continuing athletics in college
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or high school athletes continuing their athletic endeavors in college, the Coronavirus pandemic adds a new level of uncertainty. Without a spring sports season, seniors not only missed their last year of high school sports, but also critical months of training and practice for their first year as a college athlete. Senior Sophie Mayhugh, who will be playing softball for Highland Community College next year, said she has had to adapt to a whole new regimen. “Now that we’re all quarantined, I haven’t been able to lift because I don’t have those weights at my house and it’s stressing me out,” Mayhugh said. “Even though I am still able to go outside to hit and throw, I am stressed about losing some of my strength.” Senior Sam Palecki, who is committed to McPherson College to play baseball, said he predicts more competition for playing time given the fact that college seniors have been granted an extra year of eligibility. “Most coaches aren’t going to choose a brand new 18 year-old kid over a 22 year-old man who played for them for four previous years,” Palecki said. Even though all spring sport athletes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) have the opportunity to return for a fifth year, senior Justin Wingerter, who will be attending Southern Illinois University to play golf, is not concerned about the increased competition. “For many athletes, it’s hard for them to practice because their gyms and practices have been closed and canceled, but fortunately for me, since golf courses are still open, I have been able to practice as much as I’ve wanted
to during COVID-19,” Wingerter said. While still able to practice, Wingerter said losing the opportunity to break records this spring made it difficult to keep going. “I had written three goals on my bedroom wall with three different school records I was planning on breaking this spring,” Wingerter said. “Once I erased those goals from my wall, it was hard to find the motivation to keep practicing because I didn’t have any goals anymore.”
| seniorsampalecki
