SPORTS

Top left: Masked gymnasts cheer for their teammates. Bottom left: Tennis & Life assistant director Kinzee Salo disenfects courtside seating. Right: Joe Punnoose ’22 delivers a masked backhand.

NOT THE SAME BUT SOMETHING

Winter sports at Gustavus this year played under the umbrella of strict COVID-19 protocols, which at times disrupted the schedules. Men’s hockey played its first game on Jan. 29—nearly an entire calendar year since any Gustie team last competed—then was put on pause for nearly three weeks due to testing protocols. The team was able to play three more games in late February before an exposure to a positive case on an opposing team cut the season short.

The women’s hockey team experienced the same situation with an abrupt end to the season, but not before posting an impressive 4-1 overall record and 3-0 mark in the MIAC.

Men’s basketball played its first game on Feb. 3 before pausing for nearly three weeks. The team was able to end the season 3-4 overall and 3-3 in the MIAC. Women’s basketball played on a similar timeline and finished its season 5-2 overall and 5-1 in the conference.

The men’s and women’s swim & dive teams were able to compete in three meets—winning all three at home—and capped their seasons in impressive fashion by setting 25 pool records during a twoday meet at Vic Gustafson Pool.

Men’s and women’s indoor track & field competed in four events and were recognized with seven student-athletes earning USTFCCCA All-Region honors. Gymnastics also competed in four events with many athletes improving their scores throughout the course of the season.

At press time, spring sports have begun, and fall sports that were postponed earlier. Twice as many teams are in season in what is already a traditionally active spring.

Wearing masks, social distancing, and no fans in the stands created a new and different environment for our winter sports teams, but the competitive spirit never left.