Penn State Club Sports Embrace Return to In-Person Competition | University park campus news

After more than a year without competition, the Penn State Club Sports has returned to competing in person this fall semester.

Like all other club sports, women’s football has not been allowed to meet in person for the entire past year, including practices, practices or matches.

“It’s just great to be back,” said Natalia Reed, THON Senior President and Women’s Soccer Club Coach.

The women’s soccer team, after the end of its regular season, won the Region 1 championship from the National Association of Intramural and Recreational Sports this weekend.

“We had a nearly unbeaten season with a draw against Pitt,” said Reed (senior psychology and rehabilitation and social services). “I’m just excited as a senior to be playing my last season. “

The roller hockey club is preparing for its season after a year without team practice because there was no access to the intramural building last year in the middle of the pandemic.

“It’s not like we can just go out and play since we needed the IM building so we were all locked up,” said Dylan Meza, a member of the team.

As part of the preseason, the team was “out of Pittsburgh this weekend and had a tournament – games and everything,” Meza (junior IT) said.

“Getting back on the pitch and being able to play has been the best part,” said Meza.

The cross country club recently wrapped up its regular fall season and will compete in its final race next weekend – the National Intercollegiate Running Club Association National Cross Country Championship.

For a year, the club couldn’t run together in person, so members would train by running in groups outside of the official club.

“Groups of us were planning unofficial races together… completely separate from Club XC just to get together and, you know, run – since we’re all good friends,” said Daniel Hader.

Everything is back to normal “for the most part,” Hader (junior bio-behavioral health) said of this fall.

But one remaining hurdle for the team is the variance in coronavirus vaccination policies between different competitions, according to Hader.

“When we go to outside meetings at some of the other schools – like in Princeton… all members who were running had to have proof of vaccination with them,” Hader said. “There have been some competitions where those who are not vaccinated could not participate.”

Despite this, the team returned to their regular schedule of running every day, Monday through Friday, and having pasta parties before their meetings.

“Oh, it’s great to be back,” said Hader.

The quidditch club is “preparing to go” to its regional competition this Friday, according to Catherine Callison, vice-president of the club.

Quidditch is a sport that originated in the fictional world of Harry Potter, according to the description on the club’s OrgCentral site.

“It’s a bit of football, it’s a bit of dodge ball, it’s a bit of handball, it’s a bit of rugby. It’s all in one, ”said Callison (senior criminology).

During the lockdown, the team kept in touch via Zoom, hosting virtual movie nights and birthday parties. This fall, after a year without meeting, training or competing in person, the team was able to complete its regular fall season.

It’s about “making sure we’re on top of what’s going on,” Callison said.

According to Callison, the biggest hurdle for the Quidditch club has been staying alert to proper coronavirus precautions, documentation and regulations.

The club must not only adhere to Penn State guidelines, but also the policies of US Quidditch and each state in which it participates.

“I am ecstatic,” Callison said. “I have missed this sport so much.

Club team members told the same story: no training, no training and no competition until this fall. However, the club hosted their own home race on October 9 called Nittany Lion Chase and are preparing to head to another regatta in a week’s time.

President Zach How mentioned that there had been other competitions throughout the past year that Penn State was prohibited from entering due to virtual format regulations.

“[Other] teams were allowed to train and run, ”said How (junior mechanical engineer). “It was Penn State stopping [us] to participate.

According to How.

Now this year, How said the team has been able to compete and connect with new members.

“The best part is being in a team boat,” How said. “Being able to compete and win medals is exciting. “

Another team member, JP Scarbrough, said he enjoys meeting and working with younger members of the team.

The club crew divides the team into different boats based on experience and ability, providing another opportunity for new freshmen to join, interact and compete with their team peers. , according to Scarbrough (senior international politics and history).

“I want to scream our novice men’s team [because] none of them had any rowing experience, ”said Scarbrough. “In their second race they finished second… it was quite nice to watch.”

Scarbrough also said that this year the team have been able to connect with all of the players who have been at the club virtually last year.

“We had a bunch of new people coming in, and we never really got to know them. Scarbrough said. “One of the best things is being able to be with everyone, not just as a team, but as friends and family.”

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