老司机传媒

    The basketball court feels oddly serene with the absence of its usual players and the roar of the cheering fans. However, this scene is not unexpected in light of COVID-19. When the news was announced in March of 2020, our lives were changed and different became the new normal. This was no different for the members of the basketball team at 老司机传媒.
    The basketball season generally runs from late October or early November to February. Last fall semester, the basketball team continued to have tryouts and recruit new players to the team, with the hopes of being able to play during this spring semester. Unfortunately, due to regulations on sporting events in Michigan and concerns for the students, all the games for the Spring 2021 season were cancelled. Before the season was cancelled, there were several plans in place for how to keep the students safe. These plans included blocking off the locker room, having portable lockers at a safe distance around the gym, requiring masks before and after practice, and having little to no fans during games. This was in addition to the normal social distancing rules. Matthew Bryson, the sports information director, spoke about plans to put into place more protection for the players. “We even talked about plans for a bubble for our athletes similar to the NBA, in which our athletes would do class over zoom and distance from the rest of the campus,” he said. “However, when the season was cancelled, this plan became obsolete.”                                       
    The players are appreciative of the efforts and concerns to keep them safe. While there is concern of the potential of catching and spreading COVID-19, the athletes had confidence in the support of the school and workers. Maxwell Dronen (sophomore, medical laboratory science), said, “At first, I was worried, but our program put a lot of thought into everything we need to do to stay safe. Seeing how thorough they were in planning and enforcing the plan really gave me confidence that everything would be okay.”
    While they are disappointed at not being able to play this season, it provides an opportunity to focus on academics and prepare for the new season. They encourage people who are interested to come and join the team and the community of players. Being part of the team allows you to form new connections and foster teamwork, and it can also help to develop time management skills and organization. Nadira Cousins (senior, social work) said, “I would tell them to be like Nike and just do it. If you want a family of friends, the basketball team is a great place to find that. If you are a hard worker and dedicated, the girls’ basketball team is the place to showcase that.”    
    If you are interested in joining the basketball team, any other athletic teams here at Andrews, or just want to learn more you can visit .