by Katherine Heneghan, Web Editor
The pandemic has offered a unique set of challenges for student-athletes. Manhattan College Baseball and Track and Field, among other sports, are returning to the playing field after nearly a year without competing. The class of 2021 student-athletes have missed out on a lot since the pandemic started, but this spring presents the opportunity to compete with their teammates one last time. The Quadrangle spoke to Chris Emerson, a distance runner for the men’s track and field team, as well as Jose de La Cruz of baseball to hear how they’ve stayed sharp during the pandemic and their hopes for their final season in the Kelly Green and White.
Jose de La Cruz
The Quadrangle: How weird will it feel going out there to compete with your team- mates for the first time in almost a year?
Jose De La Cruz: It’s going to be a bit weird going out on the field as a team for the first time in over a year. We are all very excited to finally compete against anoth-
er uniform. The feeling of finally playing again is going to be like no other and I expect everyone to be super energetic that first inning.
TQ: What has been the hardest part about being a student-athlete during a pandem- ic?
JC: The hardest part of being a student-athlete during the pandemic has been the amount of limited workouts and practices. Not having everyone at the gym work- ing out has been a little difficult. Also, we barely had the opportunity to practice as a whole team. For the most part, the academic side was not affecting our practices because classes were mainly online and we didn’t have to rush to practice.
TQ: How have you stayed sharp during the hiatus?
JC: In the heat of the pandemic I stayed sharp by doing workouts inside my house. I also took on reading books which helped me mentally.
TQ: What are your goals for your final season as a student-athlete?
JC: My goal for this year is to bring the MAAC Tournament Championship back to the Bronx.
TQ: What has been your favorite memory as a student-athlete at Manhattan College?
JC: My favorite memories have been traveling with my teammates on the bus and plane, having a good time and talking about baseball. We spend so much time together practicing and playing, that’s something I’m going to miss a lot.
Chris Emerson
The Quadrangle: What has been the hardest part about being a student-athlete during a pandemic?
Chris Emerson: It was definitely hard not knowing if I was going to compete again. I really laid back my training over the summer and I didn’t come back in the best shape. I definitely didn’t know what I was training for.
TQ: What have you done to stay in shape during the hiatus?
CE: I tried to get to the track pretty often. I really tried to get in two runs a day at least a few times a week. Just always increasing my distance.
TQ: What are your goals for your final season running track at Manhattan?
CE: I really just want to finish respectively. I wasn’t in the best shape last semester so I really just want to finish strong. I want to look back on this season and know I stayed focused.
TQ: What has been your favorite memory as a student-athlete at Manhattan College?
CE: For me, my favorite memory just has to be all the people I have met. You real- ly get to meet a bunch of people each year and I’ve made so many great friends.