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LBCC Athletics Finally Return Since Spring 2020

By Jorge Hernandez and Marlon Villa

LBCC Vikings Sports are back this fall semester after a year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which cancelled the 2020-2021 season.

LBCC returned this fall semester with partial in-person classes and that included most sports teams returning to being active. 

Teams such as Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Men’s Water Polo and Men’s Swimming and Diving were among the many LBCC teams that returned this semester with spectators being allowed at a limited capacity.

LBCC Interim Athletic Director Kaladon Stewart believes that there is a spirit of hope and excitement in the athletic department returning to campus.

“We’re happy to be providing services to the students, coaches and staff and we encourage to see people doing what they love to do,” said Stewart. 

One concern some of the coaches had with sports returning was giving the chance to play all their athletes at their first home game after more than 18 months of inactivity.

Students returned in good shape on April 12, 2021 in mid-spring semester. Students continue to put themselves through conditioning to better their game, and results coming in for LBCC Football and Soccer teams showed the work put in has been worth it. 

“We saw the student athletes start to work hard. They were not quite in athletic shape like they had been previously, it did take the spring and summer to get them back into condition, we are seeing the effect of the correct conditioning taking place from practice and in competition,” Director Stewart said.

Stewart’s number one goal for the athletics program is to operate as safely as possible during fall events, and number two is being champions in competition, classes and character. 

“I know that LBCC coaches are extremely competitive and are also encouraging of not just being champions of competition but in the classroom,” Stewart said.

Men’s Swimming and Diving Coach Chris Oeding said, “It has been and will continue to be a gradual progression towards pre-pandemic fitness and gameplay, but everyone is happy to be playing again”.   

Oeding explained that according to the LBCC Athletic Department, 25% of spectators will be allowed at their home games on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Oeding went on to add, “Spectators will be required to complete the LBCC Health Screening and have to wear a mask while sitting six feet apart”.

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