Inside (and Out) of Santa Clara Athletics’ Bubble
Santa Clara women’s volleyball and cross country teammates offer insight about fall training
Although the cancellation of fall sports did not come as a surprise to most, it still left a lingering sense of disappointment.
As part of the West Coast Conference (WCC), Santa Clara University postponed the fall season and is continuing to discuss alternative solutions for upcoming sports events. Currently, the Santa Clara Athletics Department has partnered with the university to create a “bubble” where four sports teams — men’s basketball, women’s basketball, women’s volleyball, and men’s soccer — are provided housing and access to the athletic facilities. As part of the bubble, student athletes are only allowed to interact with the teammates they are living with, are able to train in on-campus facilities, and must wear a mask at all times.. Other fall sports teams, such as men and women’s cross country and women’s soccer, continue to practice on their own terms outside of the bubble.
Two seniors on the volleyball team — Kathryn Decker and Gretchen Reinert — and two juniors on the women’s cross country and track and field team — Claire Cocales and Sophia Morris — discussed their experience playing a sport during the pandemic. Given that one team is part of the “bubble” and the other team is living off campus, their experiences are significantly different. Regardless of their living situation, both expressed an overwhelming sense of uncertainty. Despite not knowing what the future holds, both teams have found solidarity in their shared experiences, passion for their sport, and hope for the future.
Women’s volleyball, on the other hand, is one of the teams strictly quarantined in the “bubble.” Most of the team is in the on-campus dorm, Sobrato, but three others live in an off-campus house right next to campus. Due to the proximity of the house and the seclusion of the “bubble,” team morale is high. They have spent every day with each other since July, which has proved to be a competitive advantage compared to schools who have banned practice altogether.
“It definitely helps to be back in that team environment… having other people in the same situation as you to lean on… is nice to have,” said Decker.
The team hasn’t been able to get as technical with their practices because everyone has to be six feet apart at all times. Blocking against each other, scrimmaging, and hitting into blocks are never performed.
“I don’t even remember the last time I saw our coaches smile because we can’t see their faces,” said Reinert..
Reinert and Decker hope to contribute to the program as a whole and bolster the success of Santa Clara volleyball.
“Our coaches have been a huge part [in] making us see that we’re working towards something.” said Reinert.
As seniors given an extra year of eligibility, it is likely that both Reinert and Decker will enroll in graduate school and play volleyball at a different institution in the next season. For them, this season is just as much about growing the program as well as practicing for their future career.
“As a team we’ve done a lot of talk[ing] and discussing how grateful we are to have this opportunity,” said Decker.
Outside of the bubble, the Santa Clara cross country and track and field team is a house divided, literally. The returners all live together on off-campus housing adjacent to the university. The freshmen, however, are stuck in Sunnyvale, quarantined together without the rest of their team. This physical distance has created challenges in team bonding and strong team morale.
Fortunately, the returners are able to workout together and rely on each other for support. Their coach sends unofficial workouts to stay in shape, but no one is expected to be at their peak performance.
“It’s not like we need to be race ready, we just need to keep the morale up,” said Cocales.
She also mentioned that this unpredictable season has been a powerful reminder that running is not just about winning races, but rather the personal growth and developed relationships that come along with playing a college sport.
Morris brought her own weights from home and has found a new love for the sport. Previously she would only run during mandated practices, but now she finds herself looking forward to running as a way to destress, maintain good mental health and create routine.
“It’s reevaluating why I’m running in college. I am not forming my identity only around running. I’m not going to be a collegiate athlete forever,” said Morris.
Looking towards the future, both Cocales and Morris are eager to strengthen team bonds and continue to train for any races that might come their way. With the possibility of a conglomerate season during both winter and spring, there is work that needs to be done.
Sports are more than just games, competitions and seasons. Being a collegiate athlete is about the experiences that come along with it, coronavirus and all. Even though this was not the path that anyone expected, these Broncos are doing their best to stay hopeful and appreciate the small things, one day at a time.