PITCH:
1.) Interview athletes who have been in college during covid and discuss how it is affected their experience
2.) Interview athletes on what changes need to be made with how school is handling the covid restrictions
EARLY DRAFT:
BIDDEFORD – College athletes battle covid and restrictions to remain headstrong during pandemic.
In an era when being “positive” is no longer a mental state, rather a fear among college athletes. Games get canceled, practice times are moved, masks are mandatory sometimes but not others, it can be a lot of weight on top of performing at the highest level.
When COVID-19 first hit, athletes felt the full force of shutdowns. Seasons were canceled immediately without question of return. Now, athletes face frustrating rules that are constantly changing.
“It can definitely weigh on the mind a little,” said junior hockey player Tyler Glennon, “But at the end of the day it is about playing and winning games. We can question the rules, but we can’t change them.”
Glennon’s taking refers to the varying rules that both UNE and opposing schools have. Some schools require masks, some do not. Some allow fans, some do not. Some allow unvaccinated players to play, others do not.
I have had COVID twice. The first time losing my taste and smell, without it I would not even known I had it. The second time I was asymptomatic. However, I know others have lost much more. Depending on the angle you look at it, the restrictions either make a ton of sense or no sense at all.
With little change coming in the near future, college athletes will have to push forward through COVID-19.
Peter Ciccarelli
Staying Positive…the Good Kind.
College athletes battle covid and restrictions to remain headstrong during pandemic.
BIDDEFORD -We are in an era when being “positive” is no longer a strong mental state, rather a fear among college athletes. Games get canceled, practice times are moved, masks are mandatory sometimes but not others, it can be a lot of weight on top of performing at the highest level. But, there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel.
When COVID-19 first hit, athletes felt the full force of shutdowns. Seasons were canceled immediately without question of return. Now, athletes have been able to return to the sports they love, nearly restriction free.
“It has been great for things to seem more normal,” said junior hockey player Tyler Glennon, “It’s not perfect, but definitely more enjoyable than last year. There was a brief moment where it went downhill quick again, but I think we have moved passed it”
Glennon’s take refers to the outbreak that occurred seemingly everywhere around Christmas time. Positive cases, presumably the new Delta variant, spread quickly and shut down college sports again. It was short lived, but a grim reminder of what last year was like for athletes.
As the winter sports season has gone on, and with the fall season finishing relatively uninterrupted, it would appear UNE and other schools are beginning to find some sense of normalcy. Not just for the athletes, but students and sports fans alike.
“I really missed being able to attend sports games on campus. It has been great to see my friends play again. I love that I can be there now to support them” said junior communications student Taylor Arnold.
The return of sports also brings back a forgotten sense of freedom to athletes. Tight restrictions in last year’s practices and minimal game action weighed heavily on the minds of the players. Locker rooms were closed, practices were socially distanced, and off campus activities were brought to a halt.
“Even more than hockey itself, I really missed being able to spend time with my teammates. There’s a connection you build with the guys that we were simply not able to have last year, and I think it got lonely after a while. Being able to share some laughs with my closests friends again has been so important to me.” Said junior defenseman Alex Sheehy.
If the world has learned anything from the last two years, it’s not to get excited too quickly. Life can change very fast. But for the moment, UNE athletes seem to be positive again. This time, it’s more than on a COVID test.
Reflection:
This was my first time ever conducting interviews and writing a feature story. Continuing the trend of these writing courses, I generally get scared of the unknown the first time around. But, as I progress through the work, I find myself slowly getting better at it. After my workshop, I realized my piece was a little negative. I decided to take the information I had at hand and revamp it to have more of a positive spin. My initial work just seemed like a vent session to me, and I didnt think it was gonna come off the best way to the reader. I felt I could tell a better story by focusing on the recent positive news in regard to COVID and leave the negative experiences in the past.
The interviews went smoother than I thought but I think I did not have much of a challenge because I interviewed people I knew. I think had I had to interview someone I didn’t know, the experience would have been more awkward or uncomfortable. Meeting someone for the first time and also grilling them with questions I’m sure is an interesting experience.
Overall, I am happy with how my work turned out. Again, without it only being my first experience, I can only see myself getting better from here.
