Following the first week of March, Concordia University students went on spring break. No one at the time expected the break from campus life to last roughly five months. The long awaited return to 800 North Columbia Avenue arrived on Tuesday (Aug. 4) as student-athletes began to filter in. It was the first of a series of move-in phases at Concordia.
Yes, there are still some hurdles to climb as the COVID-19 pandemic remains a concern, but there is a genuine excitement in regards to being back together with teammates and coaches once again.
Said returning first team All-GPAC volleyball senior Tara Callahan, “I’m thrilled to finally be with all of my teammates again after five months! We’ve prepared to take one game at a time and work together as a family to accomplish the goals we’ve set for ourselves. Getting back in the classroom is just as important as getting back on the court, and I’m ready.”
The orientation process, including team meetings, strength and conditioning, medical protocols and new headshots for the website, is already underway. For those who visit campus, you’ll notice athletes and staff wearing face coverings. Masks are required in public on-campus spaces where social distancing isn’t possible (with some exceptions). That requirement will last until at least the end of the second week of classes.
The revised schedule for practices and events that was put into place in June remains intact. Last week the NAIA made the decision to postpone all fall sport national championship events to the spring. However, the GPAC and its member schools have remained committed to moving forward with official competition, beginning Sept. 5. Team practices are permitted to start on Aug. 15.
In an interview with 104.9 Max Country, Director of Athletics Devin Smith reiterated Concordia’s plans to hold fall sports. Said Smith, “We felt like in the Great Plains Athletic Conference and within the Bulldog Nation we have a pretty good opportunity to continue our path with the schedules we put in place June 1. We have all kinds of safety measures and recommendations in place and we’re following the state and local health guidelines to make the most of it and diminish the spread of the virus. I believe what we’ve seen throughout the country is we’ve done a better job of understanding how it spreads and how to work through a positive test. We’re in a much better place now and we know more than we did in March.”
The weight rooms on campus opened up earlier this summer, allowing for athletes who remained local to get back to training in earnest. For several weeks, Strength and Conditioning Coordinator Todd Berner sat in an empty Walz weight room. There is much more activity occurring now in the two weight rooms (including one in the PE Center), which are following health and safety guidelines.
Face-to-face classes are set to resume on Monday (Aug. 10). The usual preseason routine that would normally feature two-a-day practices is out the window. There will be a lot of abnormality, but it still feels good to be back. We asked a sampling of fall sport student-athletes for their thoughts on their return to campus.
Art Anderson, Football
I’m really excited to be back with my brothers! The way we were working this past offseason was crazy. I am definitely looking forward to being back around that energy again. I’ve been missing those guys and I can’t wait to step on the field with them on September 12. Coach Dab preaches for us to control the things we have control over and to just handle our business regardless of the situation.
Tara Callahan, Volleyball
I’m thrilled to finally be with all of my teammates again after five months! We’ve prepared to take one game at a time and work together as a family to accomplish the goals we’ve set for ourselves. Getting back in the classroom is just as important as getting back on the court, and I’m ready.
Tori Cera, Women’s Soccer
I’m very excited to get back together with the team and see what we’re able to achieve this year! This will be a new experience for all of us with all the changes happening, but we are ready for the obstacles. I can’t wait for things to start back up and be back with my teammates.
Kylahn Heritage, Cross Country
I am so fired up. I am so ready to see my teammates again. I believe we can make it to nationals as a team again, and I believe that we can score even higher if we put our minds to it and re there for each other. It’s not about individual runners. It’s about one team.
Garrett Perry, Men’s Soccer
I’m psyched to have all the boys back and can’t wait to get out there together all working towards the same goals again. With face-to-face classes resuming I personally am stoked because scheduled times, in-person meetings and labs play a significant role in understanding material.