By: Keyshawn Davis | Sports Editor | [email protected]
The same day that the World Health Organization declared the global COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic, City College athletes and coaches expressed their concerns March 11 about the possibility of canceling games, switching face-to-face classes to online and the uncertainty of future athletic events.
As the coronavirus continues to affect people across the world, the Los Rios Community College District has discussed what actions might be taken to maintain a healthy environment and protect students, staff and faculty.
Marques Gales, head wrestling coach and assistant professor of kinesiology, said that he and the athletic department will continue to teach and coach student athletes.
“Intercollegiate sports are being canceled, and some games are being played without spectators, which is unfortunate for fans and for students athletes,” said Gales. “At the same time we have to take precautions.”
Along with his colleagues in the athletic department, Gales said he was prepared to continue classes online. Gales plans to prepare his sports and fitness classes by giving students a variety of online assignments.
“It’s not the most ideal situation, but we have to be flexible, and the situation requires our flexibility,” said Gales. “We’re doing our best to put our sports classes and fitness classes online and give students [an] opportunity to complete tasks online, whether it’s doing their own work out, whether it’s phone or virtual workout, or writing papers in response to reading articles and watching videos.”
Softball player Kimberly Evans, a kinesiology major, plans to continue her classes online, if the campus cancels in-person classes.
“The more concern I have is if teachers that don’t know how to work online classes—if they’ve never done it—won’t do a good job, or won’t really know how to teach a lesson,” said Evans. “I think our games will be OK if they stick to the cautions of just the team and coaches there, and then not allowing parents or fans in.”
Third baseman Deja Costa, a kinesiology major, is concerned about not allowing players’ friends and family to attend games.
“I know a lot of our families travel to come watch us because that’s the only time they can see us, and that makes us sad,” Costa said. “But if it’s precautionary measures, then we’ll just have to deal with it.”
Other softball players like infielder Casey Peck, nutrition major, Catcher Reyna Cota, biology, third baseman Veda Smith, early childhood, and Elisa Cueva, undecided, all acknowledged that the spread of the coronavirus will affect their sport.
“I know if we get to level three, no fans or anybody can come watch us. If it gets to level four, all athletics will be canceled. It’ll be kinda weird. It’ll feel like we’re just out there for like a scrimmage,” said Cota.
“They said we’d have no spectators. That kind of sucks—that would just be boring—and I would not like that,” said Cueva. “I think we’re going to play the same. I don’t think it’ll affect us like that, but it’ll still be weird to not see my parents there or anything.”
Swim team head coach Steve Hanson voiced his concern about the virus and said he’s preparing to put all his classes online.
“I already teach an online class, so that one is easy,” Hanson said. “I have a beginning swim class, so that’s going to be a little interesting, aside from the fact that there is no real plan in place I think the preparations for it are a good idea from an academic standpoint. I really actually enjoy the challenge of how I’m going to do [online classes].”
Swimmer Matthew Lee, architecture major, said he doesn’t know how he feels about the epidemic and is OK with the school shutting down for health reasons.
“If it’s to help people stay healthy, that’s fine,” said Lee. “So far the only deaths have been with elderly people. I’m curious about how the classes work out because obviously some classes like swim you can’t teach online. I’m pretty sure no practices have been canceled yet. That’s all I’ve heard.”
Swimmer Evan Nicholas, biology major, is more concerned about how his family will be affected.
“I’m not really that worried but also worried because it hasn’t affected me personally yet,” said Nicholas. “[I’m] trying to stay healthy and making sure that my family does the same. I pretty much have a strong immune system, but for my siblings theirs is kind of weak. I’m kind of keeping an eye on it distance-wise, hearing about it on the news, [from] coaches and teachers.”
Pitcher Michael Laneville, kinesiology major, voiced his concerns about how the changes will affect the team.
“Our next game there are no fans allowed, no parents—just teams and umpires,” said Laneville. “They usually have water bottles and Gatorade squirt bottles for the games. Now we have to bring our own water bottles, so it’s already affecting us.
Still, Laneville said, “If school closes, I’d imagine we would keep practicing. We’re on a mission to win a state championship.”
Reported by: Eric Creer, James Fife, Jewel Jones, Tony Rodriguez
