By: Peter Babb
Sports are a vital source of entertainment for millions of people across the world. It is also a passion for players of the game, but when those two are taken away at a sudden moment, it has a drastic effect on both the fans and the players.
Last year in March, the world completely stopped. Schools, businesses, and even sports were shut down across the nation and the world. Olivet Nazarene University was no exception. Spring sports had barely begun before COVID-19 forced the spring season to be canceled.
K.C Isenberg, a junior and catcher for the Olivet Nazarene University Tigers baseball team, noted how the sudden cancelation was hard on him and the team.
“It was not the best feeling. Working so hard to get shut down was awful,” Isenberg said.
Cris Horta is a senior and is on the Track and Field team, and he felt the same way when track season was cut short.
“I was pretty bummed out. Spring 2020 was my original plan to end my track career but that did not happen” Horta said. “I am thankful that I was able to join the team this year but have had my medical issues to deal with. So, I wished we had our season last spring as I was 100% healthy at the time.”
Over the course of the summer and fall of last year, sports were slowly coming back into play. However, a vast majority of Olivet sports returned to play this spring. Fall sports had to begin their seasons in the spring in order to get a season in for this school year, alongside the other typical spring sports.
With this strange new schedule, players and coaches had to adapt. Student-athletes also had to adjust to the new requirements for COVID-19 protocols, and that started out with practice for the teams.
“Practices have not been that much different for the most part,” Horta said. “The only significant change I know for sure is that we would be split into groups to practice, which at the indoor track happened a lot. Outdoor not so much outdoors since we are in an open space.”
Maintaining momentum is a crucial aspect in sports. One of the most difficult aspects of this year has been the unpredictable schedule, sometimes killing that momentum when games and competitions were canceled or postponed because of COVID-19. However, Olivet still remains competitive during this trying time.
“We just have to play every day like it’s our last,” Isenberg said. “We don’t know what’s going to happen, who knows we could get shut down again so we act like it’s our last game we’d ever play.”
Despite the pandemic, Olivet has slowly started allowing fans back into the stands by following new COVID-19 guidelines. This has given Olivet athletic teams a moral boost before their home games against their opponents.
One of the most recent sporting events was the CCAC Conference Volleyball Tournament Championship between Olivet and Trinity Christian College, which allowed nearly 250 fans in attendance. Football games have begun to allow fans as well with nearly 250 fans in attendance.
Despite the uncertainty of what is ahead for Olivet, the student-athletes rely on one another and God during these unprecedented times.
“God has helped me so much to get through this school year. Despite these abnormal circumstances,” Horta said. “I’ve had my fair share of personal issues that have made this year harder. With that said, keeping my faith close to him has allowed me to be strong and push through any obstacle.”
The athletes and coaches are making the best out of an unpredictable and odd season. They are ready to get out there and compete, just as they have done in the past. No matter what happens in the next few months, Olivet teams are prepared to play, compete, and win just as they have done before.
This spring season, Olivet’s Men’s Basketball won the CCAC for the third consecutive season, Women’s Basketball did well finishing the year 18-4 and also won the CCAC. The football team finished the year 8-1 in the spring, winning the MSFA. Men’s and Women’s Soccer both finished with records above .500. Women’s Volleyball finished their season 20-2, and won the CCAC as well.
Despite the circumstances that the players and coaches are under for this season, they remained tough and determined to win. They represent the “Gold Standard” that is Olivet athletics.
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