Athletics NEWS
Athletics in the Time of COVID-19
When COVID-19 forced the students, faculty, and staff of the college to go home and stay there, the shift to remote learning wasn’t easy, but it was far more achievable than any pivot to remote sports. You can’t have a swim meet or basketball game or wresting match from your own home. “From the time we all had to go home, we just wanted to come back,” said Brian Streeter, senior director of Athletics. “We had work to do and our coaches were anxious to recruit and get back to playing games again.” When they learned there would be no fall sports season, everyone in the Athletics program did what any good athlete does when faced with disappointment—they set their sights on the future and worked harder. “Knowing our coaches and athletes wanted to compete, we worked hard to make sure everyone could play their sport in the spring of 2021,” Streeter said. “Athletes and coaches were thrilled, but it was hard on staff to go from one sport to another for four straight months.” Every sport, except wresting, was able to have some sort of competition this past spring. It was less than ideal, but
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most were happy to have the opportunity to compete, according to Streeter. “We give credit to our coaches and athletes for having a successful spring season with four AMCC championships—men’s golf, women’s tennis, softball, and baseball—and four NCAA tournament appearances,” he said. “But it was our Athletics department staff who really took one for the team(s), working around the clock to take care of our athletes’ needs. In the end, we helped more than 360 student-athletes compete. I’m proud of that.
“Maintenance and Operations staff took care of all the things we needed to maintain a safe environment and Housing and Food Services supported our student-athletes as well, as did members of the college administration,” Streeter said. “It was a terrific team effort.” While COVID-19 challenged everyone, it may have made them stronger. “I really believe our teams will be closer due to the circumstances they faced over the last year,” he said. “We met the challenge and overcame it.” That’s what competitors do.
2020-21 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Behrend won the AMCC Institutional Peak Performer Award! (See story on page 22.) • The Lions won four of the five AMCC Championships in which they competed—men’s golf, women’s tennis, softball, and baseball. • Four student-athletes earned All-American status—Shannon Young, women’s water polo; Mackenzie McIntire and Kylee Bundy, softball; and Brady Smith, track and field. • McIntire set the doubles career record in softball at Behrend with 51. • Smith took home the bronze medal at the 2021 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the men’s high jump. He was third out of seventeen competitors with a 2.05m mark and finished in the top 8 in national competition! • Golfer Ryan Meyer was an individual champion in the AMCC Championships.
