By: Larry Vaught
DANVILLE, Ky. - For the last two years athletes have had to adjust to COVID protocols that not only limited what they could or could not do but also changed numerous times.
The Centre College swim team basically lost its 2020-21 season other than limited virtual meets comparing scores online with other teams that could not compare with a normal in-person meet.
However, two Centre senior swimmers say this year has been at least easier to cope with.
"It definitely has gotten easier as time has gone on. I don't think any of us expected the pandemic to last this long, but we have gotten accustomed to the various rules," senior
Connor Foster said.
"It is easier just because the school mandated the (COVID) vaccine and booster shot. There is less close contact quarantining which means less time out of the pool,"
Maddie Hall, a senior captain along with Foster, said. "Our athletic trainers just keep our vaccination status on record in order to make sure we are able to compete."
Both team captains said this season has been much more enjoyable for everyone.
"It has been so exciting to get back to real, in-person competition with the team and having the ability to travel and go to training camp," Hall said. "Traveling as a team and training in Florida are key moments in the season that really bond the team together to work towards our goals and create memories. I am lucky to have this experience one last time.
"It has been fun yet challenging. We have a young team. The first years (freshmen) are new to college but the sophomores are almost almost 'new' to the college swim experience as well since they did not have a normal season last year."
Still, Hall said the excitement around the team has been "refreshing" this season, Â sentiment Foster shares.
"Last year we had to try to be as separate as possible, and although swimming seems like a very individual sport, we lean on each other so much to get through the hard practices and early mornings," Foster said. Â
"Having the entire team be able to practice together again this year has been a huge morale booster. I also think we appreciate the little things about practice and being together more than we ever did before."
Following Centre College and NCAA Â protocols about COVID protocols has been a worthwhile price to pay to have this season.
"It has been worth it in the sense that we have been able to still compete, but I would say that it has been difficult to adjust to a change in what I thought my swimming career would look like," Foster said.
Hall said adjustments that had to be made to be on campus with teammates and friends to have an "almost" normal competitive swimming season were also worthwhile even if most non-athletes likely don't understand the emotional toll COVID has taken on athletes.
"I think it is a little bit more complicated than it seems. With the spread of the new omicron variant, it has given rise to a slight concern of uncertainty that we are all too familiar with last season," Hall said. "I also think athletes still in season, such as swimmers, are having to avoid interaction with the majority of campus in order to make it through our season to avoid getting omicron."
Foster understands that it is hard for other people to understand how much COVID has changed athletic careers.
"Looking back at last year, the restrictions on our training set my season back a bit and as a senior it has been hard to think that I had less time training normally than I would have had without COVID," Foster said. "One of the saddest parts that we missed last year was our training trip in Florida because that is the part of our season that unites us the most as a team."
So how much has COVID impacted their careers and love for their sport?
"I think I have been lucky to have a coach like
Dean Brownley who knew how to restructure our workouts when we weren't able to have normal practices for us all to get the most out of it," Foster said.
"For the most part I feel like I have performed well, and I still love the sport as much if not more than I always have. I have been swimming since I was 5 years old and I am thankful I have gotten to continue this long, even if it looked a little different."
Hall says the uncertainty of the last two years has provided a drive and passion to get up daily at 6 a.m. or earlier.
"I know what it was like to not be able to have access to a pool for over six months when the first (COVID) shutdown happened," Hall said. "Or when we were practicing last year and got in a groove and all of a sudden had to shut down for a week or so.
"It has made me not take any single moment in college or in the sport of swimming for granted and I am lucky to have had the Centre swim and dive team to go through this time with."
