{"id":20864,"date":"2021-12-03T10:24:39","date_gmt":"2021-12-03T15:24:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hunterword.com\/?p=20864"},"modified":"2022-12-05T23:21:44","modified_gmt":"2022-12-06T04:21:44","slug":"hunter-hawks-talk-about-their-challenging-covid19-season-by-morgran-gress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hunterword.com\/index.php\/hunter-hawks-talk-about-their-challenging-covid19-season-by-morgran-gress\/","title":{"rendered":"COVID-19 Has Added Challenges to the Lives of Hawks Student Athletes Unlike Any Period in the History of the College"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cPlaying now is more painful than I\u2019ve remembered,\u201d said Regis Enema, star center back for the men\u2019s soccer team.\u201d [COVID 19 Update, December 3, 2021]<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cBefore COVID we all had a better understanding of what it meant to be a team because we all had the same priorities: School and soccer,\u201d Enema said. \u201cAfter COVID and not playing with your team for a year and a half, it’s clear that some peoples\u2019 priorities shifted. It’s been really hard to get them on the same page as the players whose priorities haven\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s harder to create team spirit than ever before because athletes must focus on life beyond sports, said Enema, who groaned about the b\u00eate noire of students across the City University of New York: ZOOM classes.<\/p>\n

The Hunter Hawks Are a NCAA Division III Team<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n

Said Hawks Men’s Basketball Team\u2019s forward, Barrett Lowe: \u201cIt\u2019s more difficult this year because of the uncertainty.\u201d The men\u2019s basketball team has not played together at preseason pick up games and unofficial practices, the warmups for official practices, at the time of these interviews. [Hunter Hawks Men’s Basketball Team – Click Here for Updates]<\/a><\/p>\n

The team is struggling with communication and closeness, said Lowe, a senior. Before COVID-19, the pre-season pick up games and workouts occurred in the beginning of September. \u201cThere\u2019s no assurance that a season is going to happen as it didn\u2019t last year. It\u2019s harder to get enthusiastic to train hard when you might be let down by there being no season,\u201d Lowe said.<\/p>\n

Lowe was interviewed early in the semester before the announcement of the official beginning of the 2021 CUNY Athletic Season.<\/a><\/p>\n

Ryan Lau, a junior and the team\u2019s shooting guard, said, \u201cPlanning workouts and finding gyms that aren\u2019t closed are more difficult.\u201d The Hunter weight room has been closed because of COVID-19 and athletes were experiencing setbacks due to the extra caution. Although it\u2019s hard for the Hawks to be motivated, Lau said, \u201cThe one thing that keeps me going everyday is my family, they taught me to be grateful for having the opportunity to wake up everyday and play.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sports Q&A by Morgan Gress<\/strong>
\n(Athletes Interviewed Early in Semester Before Official Season Announcements)<\/h3>\n

Regis Enema, Senior and Center Back – Men\u2019s Soccer<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"

Enema. Picture courtesy Hunter Hawks<\/p><\/div>\n

Additional Bio & Stats<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

What were your first three weeks at Hunter like?<\/strong>
\nTo put it simply, it was different. A lot of things are the same like the crowded hallways, slow elevators, and impossible seating in the library but it’s hard to appreciate the things that didn’t change when so many things did. I’m just happy to be learning in an environment suitable for higher education rather than my bedroom I\u2019ve spent my life in.<\/p>\n

How is playing during the pandemic different to playing before it?<\/strong>
\nFor starters, playing now is a little more painful than I\u2019ve remembered mostly because of the fact that I\u2019ve been sitting down and staring at endless ZOOM meetings for the past year and a half. The biggest difference with playing now than before the pandemic is honestly the differences in the team mentality.<\/p>\n

It’s harder to create a sense of team when so many people are focused on more important things beyond soccer. Before covid we all had a better understanding on what it meant to be a team because we all had the same priorities, school and soccer. After covid, it’s clear to see that some peoples priorities shifted and it’s been really hard to get them on the same page as the players whose priorities haven\u2019t.<\/p>\n

Is there any covid protocol and what are workouts like if you have any?<\/strong>
\nThe only COVID protocols are wearing masks indoors in the trainer’s room or in the van, staying home if we feel sick, getting tested if someone is sick, and no gym access which has been a bummer because now we can\u2019t work out and stay in shape for the season.<\/p>\n

Barrett Lowe, Senior and Forward \u2013 Men\u2019s Basketball<\/strong><\/em>
\nAdditional Bio & Stats<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"

Lowe. Picture courtesy Hunter Hawks.<\/p><\/div>\n

How is this season different from before Covid-19?<\/strong>
\nIt\u2019s different because of the uncertainty. There\u2019s no assurance that a season is going to happen as it didn\u2019t last year. It\u2019s harder to get enthusiastic to train hard when you might be let down by there being no season or a season different than usual.<\/p>\n

Was it hard to get back into the routine of playing after not playing for two years?<\/strong>
\nWell I was still playing, just not with people at Hunter. I still haven\u2019t really officially played or practiced with the team.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the hardest part about this year for you?<\/strong>
\nThe uncertainty. It was much more organized before, more communication and closeness between teammates and more instruction from the coach.”<\/p>\n

Ryan Lau, Junior, Shooting Guard<\/strong><\/em>
\nAdditional Bio & Stars<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

How is playing basketball during the Pandemic difficult?<\/strong>
\nPlaying during the pandemic is much more difficult because of the guidelines. Planning workouts and finding gyms that aren\u2019t closed are more difficult. Many setbacks occur from being extra cautious. (Note: He was referring to contact tracking.)<\/p>\n

\"\"

Lau. Picture courtesy Hunter Hawks<\/p><\/div>\n

Is there any COVID protocol and what are workouts like if you have any?<\/strong>
\nWearing masks during practice and the weight room being closed are part of the COVID protocol. We don\u2019t have any workouts because our season isn\u2019t guaranteed.<\/p>\n

What is it that keeps players going?<\/strong>
\nThe one thing that keeps me going everyday is my family. Specifically my lost baby brother at 3 years old named Julian and almost losing my mom to cancer in 2018. It taught me to be grateful for having the opportunity to wake up everyday.<\/p>\n

Arianna Silva, Sophomore and Manager<\/strong>
\n2019-2020 Arianna Silva Stats: Not Available<\/strong><\/p>\n

How is your mental health?<\/strong>
\nDuring the Pandemic it sucked. It almost felt as if athletics didn\u2019t really check up on us. There was a point where we didn\u2019t have team meetings over ZOOM for probably like 6 months. The coach wasn\u2019t reaching out either, and if the athletic director or Helene reached out it would be to remind us of something COVID wise.<\/p>\n

I think the only time they emphasized mental health was during mental health week. This year I am trying to work hard with athletics and its staff to
\nemphasize mental health and to check on athletes regularly, not just when it\u2019s convenient to them or when, God forbid, something bad happens.<\/p>\n

Why did you choose not to play this year?<\/strong>
\nI am not playing this year just to prioritize my mental health for once and to just get back into the swing of being out of state, focusing on my major, taking care of my body physically. I also just want to find the love of the sport again but not be forced to do so.<\/p>\n

For example, last week I played beach volleyball and I had so much fun doing it because I wasn\u2019t obligated to and because I simply was happy. I knew that if I did this season it would\u2019ve felt like I was doing it to please someone else\u2019s needs and I would not be having fun.<\/p>\n

This doesn\u2019t mean I am done with volleyball, I still have hope that maybe I can return for my senior season, but if not I am perfectly fine with just playing volleyball as a pastime or whenever I just want to go play with some friends<\/p>\n

What is it like to be a manager instead of a player?<\/strong><\/p>\n

My feelings now as a manager for the team, fortunately, I still feel a part of the volleyball community and the team itself. The girls are wonderful, I am making new friends, but I also don\u2019t regret the decision I made to not play this year, only because it simply just isn\u2019t the same.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Morgan Gresse can be reached at MORGAN.GRESS53@myhunter.cuny.edu
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cPlaying now is more painful than I\u2019ve remembered,\u201d Regis Enema, star center back for the men\u2019s soccer team,\u201d tells the WORD’s<\/b><\/i> Morgan Gresse. “\u201cBefore COVID we all had a better understanding of what it meant to be a team because we all had the same priorities: School and soccer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more →<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":78,"featured_media":8265,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20864","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-archives"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hunterword.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20864","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hunterword.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hunterword.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hunterword.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/78"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hunterword.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20864"}],"version-history":[{"count":30,"href":"https:\/\/hunterword.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20864\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20991,"href":"https:\/\/hunterword.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20864\/revisions\/20991"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hunterword.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8265"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hunterword.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20864"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hunterword.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20864"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hunterword.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20864"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}