Track and Field

On day one of the NCAC semi-finals Feb. 24 in Greencastle, IN, the women’s track and field team placed first of seven teams, while the men’s team placed sixth of eight overall. Also present at this championship was the women’s basketball team. All three teams cheered one another on throughout the events.

“If I’m being a little selfish, I will tell you Wittenberg’s track team was there too at the track meet but wasn’t at the basketball game,” Track and Field and Cross Country Coach Ray Appenheimer told the Review. “I really think [it] speaks to this place and this community. … We understand that the more supportive your community, the better your performance is going to be. … So much of what we do around here is ‘I see you … and I want to be here for you, and if there’s anything I can do to help support you, help challenge you, help build you up, I’m gonna do that for you.’ That’s not only a basketball or track thing, and it’s not only a department of Athletics thing — it’s an Oberlin thing. It is part of the fabric of this place, and it’s why we all choose to come here every single day.” (“Track and Field, Women’s Basketball Cheer Each Other On During NCAC Championships in Indiana,” The Oberlin Review, March 3, 2023)

Basketball

At the same NCAC tournament, the women’s basketball team defeated Wittenberg University 63–57 to advance to the finals, promoting them to the fourth seed in the conference. In the finals Feb. 25, Oberlin lost 79–71 to Ohio Wesleyan University’s Battling Bishops after a valiant effort. With just over 12 and a half minutes left in the game, the Yeowomen led by 11 points, but the third-seeded Battling Bishops ultimately upped their defense to win their sixth NCAC championship.

Lacrosse

Playing in poor weather conditions April 5, the women’s lacrosse team won its final non-conference game 15–5 before it entered a string of NCAC games.

“It was very sporadic, and in the moments of torrential rain, the game became very back-and-forth,” College third-year Audrey Koren told the Review. “Both teams had difficulty holding onto the ball because it was hard to see and everything was slippery. Once the rain would stop for a while, we did a good job regaining control and maintaining possession.” (“Women’s Lacrosse Defeats Baldwin Wallace,” The Oberlin Review, April 7, 2023)

Softball

The softball team ended its season April 26 with a 4–3 win in game two of a doubleheader against The College of Wooster. The game lasted nine innings. At the end of the seventh inning, the College of Wooster Fighting Scots and the Yeowomen were tied 1–1, but the Yeowomen pulled ahead in the bottom of the ninth with three additional runs. College first-year Hailey Alspach intercepted a steal during the game. Earlier this semester, Alspach spoke to the Review about her hopes for the team. “We have become an aggressive offensive team with a greater knowledge of how to handle certain defensive situations,” Alspach said. “Moving forward in the season, the team is really excited to see what we will be able to accomplish with everything we have learned. Hopefully, we’ll be able to show that this team is better at competing than last year and come out with more wins than before.” (“Despite Early Losses, Softball Optimistic for Season,” The Oberlin Review, March 10, 2023)

Baseball

Over spring break, the baseball team made a trip to Arizona for the Tucson Invitational, where the team won four games and lost three. During the team’s first matchup against Carleton College on the fifth day of the invitational, which Oberlin won 11–1, College third-year pitcher Vince Dolcemaschio won an NCAC award for his work on the mound. “[The trip] was awesome,” Dolcemaschio told the Review. “For me personally, baseball is my passion and number-one priority. Being able to only focus on baseball without the burden of school or homework was a pleasure. I wish every week could be like that.” (“Baseball, Softball Find Success During Spring Break Trips,” The Oberlin Review, March 31, 2023)

Tennis

The men’s tennis team won its final match before entering the NCAC tournament. This final win was an away game at Ohio Wesleyan University, and the final score was 8–1. Both the women’s and the men’s teams lost in the first round of the NCAC tournament — the men saw a 5–4 loss to Wabash College while the women lost with the same score to The College of Wooster.

In singles, Billerbeck fought a tight match against his Wooster opponent but eventually won in a tiebreak of 7–6 (7–5). After the tie, Billerbeck also won 6–1 in the second match. First-year Shawn Lisann also won his opening set 6–1 in opening position, then won the next match because of a withdrawal from Wooster.

In an email to the Review, Shawn Lisann expanded upon his thoughts on the season.

“Our best tennis is still ahead of us,” Lisann wrote. “Everyone on the team plays an important role, and it’s awesome that everyone comes prepared to compete every day. As a [first-year], it’s been awesome learning from everyone else on the team. We’ve got great leadership from our upperclassmen. The team is awesome.”

Second-year Sebastien Naginski also earned a victory over the Scots, winning his first set 6–3 and then falling 2–6. Naginski was able to secure his seventh win of the year, as he won 6–4 in his third set. Both Dill and fourth-year Samuel Topper were victorious. Dill beat his Wooster opponent 6–2, while Topper beat his opponent by matching 6–4 counts.

In an email to the Review, Topper commented on the season and his match on Wednesday.

“The season has gone pretty well so far,” Topper wrote. “This is the best team that weʼve had during my time here, and I really think we can make some noise at conferences this year. My match was fun today — I played a really consistent player who had a good backhand. … I struggled with my serve at the start of the match, but settled in nicely in the second set. It felt great to get a quality conference win in my last home match of the season.”

Topper is one of the few fourth-years who will graduate in the spring, so this is his last season playing with the team.

“My hope is to be able to fully enjoy the rest of my time being able to play college tennis,” Topper wrote. “My goal is to play at the level that my coach and my teammates know that I’m capable of playing at.”

The Yeomen have come off of a 3–0 spring break record. They hope to use the momentum from their 7–2 win during this matchup for the rest of the season. Next, the Yeomen take on Wittenberg University Saturday, April 15.

Tennis great Mary Joe Fernández, who resides in Cleveland, was in the stands throughout the week. Fernández is a former World No. 4 who reached the finals of three Grand Slams in singles: the 1990 and 1992 Australian Open, along with the 1993 French Open. She also represented the United States at the 1992 Summer Olympics, where she earned her country a bronze medal.

“This is where you can really see the next generation develop and go on to do really well,” Fernández said in an interview with the Review.

Tennis is a notoriously expensive and exclusive sport that can be inaccessible to many young people. The equipment is not cheap, and court rental prices can be high, with some clubs charging $20 an hour just to rent a court. Lessons are even more expensive, with high-quality coaches often charging $100 or more for just 60 minutes of teaching.

Since access to attending professional tennis matches can be rare, the Cleveland Open, which is completely free to attend during the first five days, is a prime opportunity for fans to watch elite tennis players.

“I’ve lived in Cleveland for the last 20 years, and this is my club and where my kids learned to play tennis,” Fernández said. “To be able to come when the kids were little was really inspiring for them to watch such great tennis.”

The most famous and celebrated player in the draw, Jack Sock, took on Alex Michelsen in the first round. Sock, a former World No. 8 and Champion of both Grand Slam Doubles and Mixed Doubles, played his first match of the new year against a red-hot opponent. Michelsen came into the Cleveland Open having made the finals of his past four tournaments, winning two, including his victory over Lucas Renard in the finals of the Edmond Open on Jan. 23.

18-year-old Michelsen’s lack of experience against top players was on display early in the match, where he was visibly tight and missed multiple routine shots that gave Sock the early break of serve and a quick 3–1 lead. Sock was seemingly in control of the first set until Michelsen found another gear and broke Sock back to even the match at 5–5. Michelsen went on to dominate the tiebreak and carry that momentum through to the second set. As his opponent’s level rose, Sock’s spirits crashed and the match ended with Michelsen prevailing 7–6 (3), 6–4.

Michelsen was proud of his performance and his perseverance throughout the match.

“I was feeling good throughout the match, and I did everything well,” Michelsen said in an interview with ATP Tour. “I executed the game plan very well. I knew he was going to come out firing. His serve and forehand are obviously fantastic, that’s how he got to top 10 in the world. But I stuck to the game plan and it worked well. Best win of my life so far.”

Another young American was especially impressive this week. Aleksandar Kovacevic, a 24-yearold from New York City and the fifth seed at the Cleveland Open, had crashed out in the first qualification round at the Australian Open in early January and had not played a tournament since. In his first round match, he held a match point against Alex Rybakov at 7–6 in the second set tiebreak. After floundering that match point and losing the set, Kovacevic recovered well and won the third set with ease, ultimately prevailing 7–6 (7), 6–7 (7), 6–2. Kovacevic’s sole straight set victory this week came at the expense of a veteran Ukrainian, Illya Marchenko. Kovacevic’s serve was never broken and he saved both break points he faced as he cruised to a 7–5, 6–3 win.

Kovacevic wowed fans again in his next two matches, both of which were grueling three-set wins against the third-seed veteran and crowd favorite Stevie Johnson, and first seed Emilio Gomez, respectively. Kovacevic found himself running the gauntlet, since second-seed Wu Yibing stood in the way between him and the trophy. Wu and Kovacevic had previously faced off in the finals of a Challenger Tour event in Indianapolis in July 2022, with Wu winning 6–7 (10), 7–6 (13), 6–3.

The final was full of stellar tennis and tense scorelines. Wu came out firing, breaking his opponent in the third game of the match and then again to close out the first set 6–3. The second set was incredibly tight with neither player facing a break point until 5–5. Wu could nearly taste his fifth Challenger Tour title, but Kovacevic broke his serve easily and subsequently held serve to even the match at one set all. The final set was about as tense as a set could be. Kovacevic broke Wu’s serve at 4–4 to serve for the match, but was broken at 0–40. He didn’t waste his second opportunity, however, and won his maiden Challenger Tour event 3–6, 7–5, 7–6 (2).

The Cleveland Open is an excellent annual opportunity for fans to witness professional tennis at an affordable cost and create a personal experience. Players like Kovacevic often leave their first lasting impression on tour and will hopefully be seen raising trophies at higher levels of the game in later years.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What inspired you to walk across the country?

The original inspiration for our walk was the adventure and the physical and mental challenge that would come from a 2,800 mile trek across the country. We also thought it would be a great way to see and learn about the country first-hand. We have also both grown up in cities, so we thought that spending time in rural America and meeting the people there would be a valuable experience.

We began our walk on June 17. At the moment, we are walking through cold and windy conditions and approaching the New Mexico-Arizona border. We look forward to the rise in temperature as we start getting closer to Phoenix. Our diet consists mostly of hot dogs and candy, as that is often all that is available when we do have the opportunity to get food.

How did your time at Oberlin propel you to go on this trip?

I don’t think any experience could fully prepare someone for a trip like this. I will say that my time at Oberlin, where I’ve lived on my own for the first time and learned many lessons in the classroom and on the tennis team, has allowed me to grow and mature as a person. I think that if I had attempted a trip like this in high school, I would not have been ready and it would’ve been a disaster.

What is the purpose of this journey?

The purpose of our walk is to push ourselves outside of our comfort zone and learn to be tough and deal with adversity. Even now that we are over 2,000 miles in, walking 25 miles each day is still very challenging. We have dealt with all sorts of adversity, whether it be weather related, broken equipment, or general fatigue. Along our journey, we also decided to attach a charitable cause to our walk. Several conversations with formerly homeless individuals who described the hardships that they faced inspired us to raise money for The Night Ministry. The Night Ministry is an organization in Chicago, our home town, that provides a variety of services to people who are homeless or struggling with poverty. Our GoFundMe page is called Coast2Coast, and this is the link:

What do you hope to gain from this experience, and what have you learned?

The ability to deal with adversity is one thing that I would highlight. It is impossible to run from it out on the road, so we’ve had to learn to deal with it head on and solve the problem at hand. I also hope that I will return to “normal” life with a new sense of appreciation for things like a balanced diet, heating and air conditioning, and a bed to sleep on. I’ve grown to appreciate the freedom I have to spend my time as I wish, while right now we basically just have to walk all day.

I have learned that there are a lot of kind people out there, and specifically in small town America. People have stopped by in their cars to give us food and water, or just to ask if we are okay. We have also been invited to several church services on Sunday after being found camping on their lawns. These people have wished us safety on our trip, taken us out to lunch, and even gave us money for the road when we didn’t ask for any. In general, people acting kindly to us and doing us favors without asking for anything in return has been very touching. I think it is important to have adventures while you’re young, and this has certainly been a great one.

Along with Novak Djokovic, Federer and Nadal have dominated tennis since the early 2000s and are seen as some of the greatest tennis players of all time. The two have always had immense respect for each other, and neither have been shy to admit it. Before the 2010 Nitto ATP Finals, Nadal provided insight into his and Federer’s friendship.

“We have a great relationship all the time,” Nadal said. “Our relationship didn’t change a lot since the beginning because it was always very respectful. The only way the relationship has improved is getting closer. We spend more time together, always being in the [ATP Player] Council, being on court, playing exhibitions together. I don’t think it’s a rivalry. All these important moments in tennis make you appreciate it more.”

Federer has been equally vocal about his respect and support of Nadal.

“I’m his number one fan, I think his game is simply tremendous,” Federer said before playing against Nadal in the 2017 Australian Open final. “He’s an incredible competitor and I’m happy we’ve had some epic battles in the past.”

Both Federer and Nadal have erased each other’s name from the winning side of history on numerous occasions. However, healthy competition and respect is what stands out in their rivalry. They have always held themselves with grace and humility and are shining examples of sportsmanship at the highest level.

Images of Federer and Nadal after their match have gone viral for the amount of emotion each friend displayed. It was anticipated that everyone would be emotionally affected and for Federer to be in tears, but Nadal crying and holding hands with Federer on the bench was unexpected.

“We can coexist in a tough rivalry and come out on top and show that, hey, again it’s just tennis,” Federer said in the postgame interview. “Yes, it’s hard, and it’s brutal sometimes, but it’s always fair. And you can come out on the other side and still have this great, friendly rivalry.”

Federer’s last match was the second time he and Nadal had partnered together in the Laver Cup, a unique tournament on the professional calendar. In this team-focused event, the top European players band together as Team Europe to take on the best of the rest, Team World. Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe, two Americans competing for Team World, saved a match point and prevailed over the European pair 4–6, 7–6 (2), 11–9 in a two-hour battle. Despite his final match ending in defeat, Federer was not disappointed by the outcome.

“It does feel like a celebration to me,” he said. “I wanted to feel like this at the end, and it’s exactly what I hoped for.”

Tennis has always been an individual-focused sport with few opportunities for team involvement. The Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup competitions, in which male and female tennis players play for their individual countries, were tennis’s primary team
events for years. Although these two events are still important, the Laver Cup has become the most anticipated team event of the year. Along with being incredibly entertaining for tennis fans, the Laver Cup has reduced the perception that top players around the world are not friendly and harmonious with one another.

Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic have shared nearly every accolade in this generation of tennis, and many of their matches have occured on opposite sides of the net in prestigious singles competitions. The Laver Cup united these three legends on Team Europe, where they are no longer rivals but allies. Fans have seen players on both teams cheering loudly in support of their teammates. The Laver Cup has successfully brought a team dynamic to tennis and has put healthy and competitive behavior on display for fans to witness.

Many athletes are forced to retire due to contracts or injury. Although Federer’s final comeback was stopped short due to his recurring knee injury, he was still able to retire on his own terms. Surrounded by friends and family, Federer’s last match contained everything an athlete could want in their farewell to their sport.

“The way it all happened yesterday, I think it’s the perfect way to say goodbye,” Djokovic said to reporters the day after Federer’s match.

Roger Federer is an exemplary sportsman: graceful, sensitive, strong, and compassionate. His rivalry with Rafael Nadal is one for the history books, in both records and respect. He has left an indelible mark on tennis and his legacy will last forever. Thank you for everything, Roger, and enjoy your retirement.

Looking back on my time as a student-athlete, here are five pieces of advice I would give to you as you enter college. Enjoy the ride while it lasts.

Live in the moment. As I look back on my collegiate, academic, and athletic career, I always felt the need to stress about my future. I believe that part of that stress stemmed from the fact that I am a first-generation Asian and Latino student. I continuously asked myself: What am I doing right now that will contribute to my career post grad? While it’s important to take the necessary steps to achieve the goals you set for yourself, it’s okay to take a walk and enjoy the scenery. It’s okay to take a break and listen to some music. It’s okay to play a game of cards with your friends. Looking back on my experience, I wish I listened to my desire to live in the moment and enjoy the subtleties of college life instead of stressing solely about my future. 

As a student-athlete, I became accustomed to a certain way of life. I would encourage you to attend events outside of athletics and continue to push your boundaries. I recently went to Porchella, where I met so many students from corners of campus I never usually engage with. I loved seeing students dance as they enjoyed the music and one another.

Express yourself in ways you have not tried. Dress differently — no one but you can decide what is fashionable. Listen to music you don’t normally listen to. Read articles that cover a topic you don’t quite understand. The possibilities are endless. Continue to push the boundaries that society sets on you, and the ones you set on yourself. 

Throughout my life, I have felt a huge lack of self-worth and self-belief. You need to speak to yourself as you would like to be spoken to. I know that everyone struggles with this at some point in their lives. You have to speak to yourself with sincerity, kindness, and compassion. Rather than “I can’t,” say, “I can,” “I am able,” and “I am capable.” This small change in language will really help you, especially in moments where you feel lost and unworthy. Try not to be so hard on yourself and recognize that you are here for a reason. You are worthy and you can and will find yourself. Utilize this power in language!

Comparing ourselves to others is extremely toxic; understand that everyone is on a different path, and that is okay. Getting caught up in the accomplishments of others, hindered me from recognizing my own. Each and every one of your friends is on a different path in life. You’ll learn different life lessons at different times, understand material in different ways, and find different professional paths at different rates. Spend less time comparing yourself to others, because you are unique and so is your path. Give yourself grace and, most importantly, understand that when one door closes, another one opens. 

There are moments when you will feel overwhelmed, anxious, and on the verge of tears. It is good to cry. These emotions are normal and healthy. So often you’ll try to repress your emotions, but it is extremely important to let it all out rather than bottling it up. If you need a shoulder to cry on, call a friend, family member, or even your coach. Go to the coaches’ office to let them know what you’re struggling with — building that type of relationship with your coach will really help you. Express every emotion in a healthy manner, and trust that you will feel a lot better afterward. 

As I look back on my college years, I’m extremely grateful for the people I have met, the moments of euphoria in sport, and the pride in being the first person in my family to graduate from college. I look forward to continuing this journey of life and further understanding myself so that I can share valuable lessons with others. I hope that these points spoke to you and that you truly enjoy your career as a student-athlete. You will continue to get stronger, and influence others for the better. 

– AC10

Dear first-year Francesca,

I know a lot of people have told you what to expect in the next four years. Many people have talked about how college will be the best time of your life, where freedom will bring countless opportunities and new avenues of exploration. People have also warned you to be prepared for academic and athletic challenges, as the hardest obstacles are soon ahead as a college student and athlete. While many aspects of these things are true, I want you to remember how far you have come. 

Although it is hard to reflect on the adversity you have experienced, remember what you have learned. You have the tools to push forward, to find drive and motivation no matter how hard life hits. In these moments, take time and give yourself the attention and care. You deserve to heal and rest. Believe and trust that you can and will continue to thrive, even when the road seems too long and you feel as if life is wearing you down. You’re not a quitter and, believe me, that doesn’t change in the future.

With both athletics and academics, I want you to challenge yourself. Use your curiosity and passion to find what you love, and that is how you will find joy in your pursuits. Listen to others with patience and an open mind, and always engage with a goal to understand. Don’t be afraid to fail. If you get lost, lean on the people that bring you peace and comfort in every sector of your Oberlin life. You love helping people, and you will find the same love all around you in your community. Remember that trust is earned, so seek out those who have earned it for support and you will find strength. 

I want you to remember who you are, and what you value. Know what you are worth and how you should be treated, and you will gain the confidence and positive energy that will provide uplift. College is the best time of your life, but there are still ups and downs. While exploring and pushing yourself, remember that change is inevitable and sometimes you have to ride the wave and take life as it comes. Enjoy the time you have at Oberlin, whether it’s a doubleheader match, going to an amazing jazz performance, or learning something that is exciting and/or confusing. You have so many beautiful people and things to experience moving forward, but don’t forget to seek out the unknown. 

The unknown can be intimidating, but so rewarding all at the same time, and you will learn that soon enough. You are going to do great things and accomplish so much on internal and external levels that will lead you to new, exciting opportunities beyond Oberlin. Sometimes, it is easy to feel discouraged. When you feel this way, take a step back and remember all of this, and never sell yourself short. When you are afraid of the future, consider how you have grown, and know that you will continue to grow and realize more about yourself and the world around you.

Love,

Francesca 

“Every match, I have to be mentally prepared to play, and then I’ll just sit and wait for literally four or five hours not knowing whether or not I’ll play that day,” said Amelia Bronfman, a second-year on the women’s tennis team. “I just have to cheer everyone else on and try to support everyone else as best I can.” 

Bronfman walked on to the tennis team last spring, and has faced difficulty getting put in the lineup since. She mentioned that because she doesn’t often get included in the lineup, whether or not she gets to play in a match relies heavily on a number of factors, including timing of the “real” matches and court availability. 

Isa Morales, a first-year goalkeeper on the women’s soccer team, has faced similar difficulties getting playing time. She talked about the ways in which coaches interact differently with starting players than with players who get less game time. 

“When a coach has kind of set their mind on who the starter is going to be, they treat the other goalkeepers very differently,” Morales said. “We don’t really get much feedback, much constructive criticism, anything like that.” 

Bronfman mentioned that her coach often has individual practices with starting players that he doesn’t have with her. Additionally, her coach occasionally asks her not to come to practice so that the numbers work out better for drills. She talked about how the dynamic between her and her coach is different from the dynamic he has with other players on the team.

“I think that [my coach] can be a little bit tougher on the people who don’t play as much,” Bronfman said. “I think he puts more time and energy and affection toward the people who usually win him a lot, but I don’t think he means it. I think it’s unconscious.” 

Jack Page is a first-year on the men’s baseball team who walked on to the team in the fall. He’s been practicing and playing with the Junior Varsity team and consequently hasn’t had many opportunities to log official game minutes. He pointed out that while there is some differential treatment on his team, he thinks it’s best for the team as a whole. 

“In season there is definitely more focused coaching on my teammates who get more playing time, but that’s what gives us the best chance to win,” Page wrote in an email to the Review. “We’re all held to the same standards.”

Morales also talked about the ways in which her role on the team can change the way that her teammates interact with her.

“Outside of the field, I’m friends with everyone on the team,” Morales said. “But when we’re in practice, I sometimes feel like since I’m not a starting goalkeeper [and] I haven’t gotten any minutes in, they don’t take me as seriously when they’re on my side during drills.” 

Bronfman agreed with Morales, making sure to distinguish between the intentions and actions of her teammates and the role played by the culture of her sport. 

“Even though my coach and my teammates try really hard to include me and make me feel like I really am a member of the team, I just feel like the culture that we live in makes it impossible for them to see me as valuable or as equal,” Bronfman said. “I don’t think that’s necessarily their fault, but that doesn’t mean that that makes me feel any better about it.”

Both Morales and Bronfman mentioned that their role as a bench player, combined with the differing treatment from coaches and teammates, has limited their opportunities to grow within their sport. 

“The better people get more chances to get better, and if you’re not as good, you don’t get the chances,” Bronfman said. “I can only imagine how much more I would have improved if I had had equal time like that.” 

Despite having fewer opportunities to make a difference on the field, the court, or the track, bench players still contribute to the team and to the team spirit. When the bench players cheer on teammates and support them, the mood and energy on the field can pick up dramatically. Morales even mentioned that being a step removed from the action can give bench players a unique perspective on the game. 

“I think my biggest role right now is supporting my teammates, more than anything,” she said. “Even if I’m not physically on the field during games, I want to be cheering them on. I want to be as much help as possible, especially with the goalkeeper that is playing.” 

Despite the difficulties that come with being a bench player, these players still have the same love for their sports as starting players, and they still benefit from the team environment. Morales spoke on this feeling. 

“I still do really love being part of the team, and I don’t think not playing is something that is going to deter me from being a part of the team,” she said. “It’s motivated me to do more — I’m very excited for next year, I’m very excited to keep trying.” 

Page agreed. He wrote about how while he’s not a starting player, he feels like his job is to just do what he can until the day comes when he’s needed. 

“The other guys on the team, no matter their role, are my friends, my teammates,” Page wrote. “I’ll do whatever I can to help put them, myself, and our team in the best situation. Whether that is in the field or off, I can cheer them on and do what I can to help us all get better.”

College second-year on the lacrosse and soccer teams Maya Blevins explained that team activities had to be adjusted in accordance with ObieSafe regulations. Specifically, the women’s lacrosse team had to forfeit this past week due to an abnormally low number of field players, as many players are in isolation for COVID-19 exposure and miscellaneous injuries. 

“We had to cancel a game this past Saturday against DePauw,” Blevins wrote in an email to the Review. “We also had to miss two days of practice and made lift optional. Usually, we do film all together in the gym classroom, but instead, we were sent times to watch individually. Of course it has been very disappointing to lose time to be together, especially so close to the end of our season, but fortunately, throughout the majority of our season, we were mostly unaffected by COVID-19.”

Fourth-year lacrosse player Kiernan Stone believes that his team hasn’t been extremely affected by the rise in COVID cases on campus, but have had a couple players on the roster test positive.

“COVID’s affected our season a little bit this semester, but we’ve been pretty lucky so far,” he said. “We’ve only had a couple cases recently, so we missed a couple guys here and there, but we’ve been fortunate enough to not have widespread numbers throughout our team.”

In December 2021, when cases were rising on campus due to the Omicron variant, the team was worried that they wouldn’t be able to start their pre-season practices. Fortunately for them, by the time the squad returned to campus in January the numbers had dissipated.

In response to the rise in cases, Oberlin Athletics will continue to uphold the ObieSafe regulations implemented on April 21, keeping athletic facilities open with social distancing. The mask requirement was put back in place, with student-athletes required to wear masks during indoor meetings and in the weight room. However, in continuation with previous regulations, student-athletes are exempt from wearing masks during practice and competition. 

Delta Lodge Director of Athletics and Physical Education Natalie Winkelfoos added that Oberlin Athletics will not be adding additional testing and will try to reschedule games that are canceled as a result of weather or COVID-19. 

“We will not be doing any additional testing, … staying the course with the guidelines that are in place today,” she wrote in an email to the Review. “Whether games are postponed/canceled due to weather or COVID-19, we always do our best to reschedule games.”

At this point, the women’s lacrosse team is used to being flexible regarding changes due to the pandemic. After experiencing a season cancellation and shortened season, the team is grateful for any day they get to play the game that they love. 

“Our team knows best the sharp adjustments that come with the pandemic,” Blevins wrote. “In 2020, the lacrosse season was cut short when Oberlin students got sent home. In 2021, we only got to play four games and wore masks while playing. I think this has made my team even more grateful for the times we do get to be together. Before every game, we remind ourselves that we never know what could happen tomorrow, so we have to give everything we have today.” 

Similarly, Stone knows what it’s like to have to navigate the pandemic with sports and emphasizes the importance of valuing your time with your teammates. In his, Stone was sent home in March of 2020 like the rest of campus, resulting in his season being cut short, and only got to play half of a regular season in 2021 when the College reinstated athletic competition. 

“We know things can change at any given moment, so we gotta play every moment as if it were our last,” he said. “All we can do is hope for the best, knowing that things could change right away. Cherishing the time that we have together is what keeps us going.”