COVID presents challenges
With sports being delayed until Spring thanks to COVID-19, some Javelinas are trying to make the best out of a trying situation.
According to the Lone Star Conference, a student-athlete’s eligibility to play will not be affected by the delay.
Hanna Lantz, assistant athletic director for academics and compliance, said a student-athlete does have the option of opting out this season.
“Players have a chance to opt out of the season without any consequences and will still have another year of eligibility,” she said.
This allows all players from freshmen to seniors to sit out and still be able to play. Another upside is they can get ahead on school work.
Many athletes didn’t think twice about taking the year off because they know it will give them more time to work on their individual game and team chemistry. But some took a different view.
“It makes no sense to opt out on the year when it gives us an advantage now to do all our work online and work on our game,” freshman Ja Robertson, basketball player, said.
With the season being pushed back for all sports, student-athletes are taking their training to another level by working out three times a day. Some also appreciate having time to focus more on school.
“It feels good to have a balance in school work and basketball. Of course I love the sport, but education comes first,” junior guard Tra Snell said.
There are new rules for the training facilities, and so to be able to practice student-athletes must be in small groups and get early morning temperature checks.