athleticsnews The Maroons posted a 23-5 win over Shenandoah on April 7. Luke Kammerrman ’24, attack, was named ODAC Lacrosse Co-Rookie of the Year on May 12. A N A M A Z IN G F E AT
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The return to play
It lifted everyone’s spirits when we saw people on the fields or courts.
— Roanoke College President Michael C. Maxey
” Roanoke took two from the Shenandoah University Hornets on April 3. 22
STORY BY BRIAN HOFFMAN ’74 PHOTOS BY RYAN HUNT ’18
IT WAS THE LEAST BUSY OF YEARS. It was the busiest of years. It was the year of COVID. After nine months without a single game, meet or match involving a Roanoke College student-athlete, sports returned with a flurry in 2021. During a span of two weeks, from March 6-20, every sports team at the College competed. It all began a year prior, on March 11, 2020. On that day, Rudy Gobert, of the National Basketball Association Utah Jazz, tested positive for COVID-19 and all sports as we knew them shut down. In just days all professional and college sports, including NCAA tournaments, were put on hold. That included nine spring sports that were already underway at Roanoke College. While the school waited to see if things would “get better,” the fields, courts and tracks would remain empty through the end of the school year. Then, when things didn’t get better, the fall season was impacted as well. It was the first time since Roanoke College Director of Athletics Scott Allison ’79 was a child that he wasn’t busy with sports. “We had a long stretch with no games,” said Allison. “It was strange for me having Saturday and Sunday off, but I’m paying for that now. It was feast or famine.” “Feast” began Jan.16, 2021, when the Maroons swim team had a meet, the first intercollegiate competition for a Roanoke College team in nine months. Men’s and women’s basketball, and indoor track teams started the following week, but with no fans in attendance and protocols that had coaches and game officials wearing masks, as well as the players when they weren’t competing.
