Ask anyone, and they'll tell you that the year 2020 has been one of a kind. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic earlier this year has forced people into significant lifestyle changes that have included the loss of important traditions, routines, and activities.

For Penn State Altoona students, the adjustment to coronavirus college life has consisted of things like attending classes virtually while not having the usual array of in-person extracurricular events offered on campus. But a smaller slice of the Penn State Altoona student population, the campus' NCAA Division III athletes, has been forced to cope with losing something unique and important to their individual identities: playing competitive, intercollegiate sports.

In March, Penn State Altoona's sports came to a grinding halt as the first wave of COVID-19 swept its way across the nation. With little warning, student-athletes suddenly found that they had played their last games of the season, and for some, the last games of their collegiate careers. The hiatus extended into the fall semester, with Penn State Altoona's athletic conference, the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference, deciding to postpone all fall semester sports to the spring.

With the spring 2021 semester approaching, much uncertainty still looms over the fate of sports at Penn State Altoona. AMCC officials and their peers across the entire NCAA have been weighing difficult choices over the past months, trying to best determine how to balance health protocols with methods to effectively hold intercollegiate competition – all amid a swirling storm of unknowns.

Meanwhile, Penn State Altoona's student-athletes have been stuck in a state of limbo, preparing for seasons they aren't sure will happen. Many of Penn State Altoona's teams have held practices during the fall semester, utilizing strategies such as mask wearing, social distancing, and regular symptom checks to get team activities underway in a responsible fashion. The ultimate decision regarding whether or not sports will be played in the spring semester is out of the student-athletes' hands, but it hasn't stopped them from putting in the hard work this fall to get back to their sports.

"It's very important for our teams to be practicing this fall," said Alexis Cannistraci, a senior on the women's basketball and women's volleyball teams. "Practicing before an almost two-month winter break until the spring may seem pointless to people who have never played sports before. But we lost a lot of great senior leaders from last year, and the time that we get to practice now is crucial for team chemistry and bonding. Even with the uncertainty, I know my coaches and teammates are very hopeful for the chance at playing in the spring."

Cannistraci is optimistic that her hard work during the fall semester can pay off if sports are played in the spring. In basketball last season, she was a first team All-AMCC selection and surpassed the 1,000-point mark in her collegiate career. She enters her senior season as a candidate to be named the AMCC's preseason player of the year, and she needs just 166 points to become Penn State Altoona's all-time leading scorer. There are also high hopes for Cannistraci's women's volleyball team, which reached the conference semifinals last season and could be poised to make a run at the championship this season.

Cannistraci knows that several team and individual accomplishments are attainable this upcoming season, and she wants to be ready if sports are given the green light to play. On top of that, she hopes that the virus will not take away the opportunity to play during her senior season.

"Sports are a very important part of my life," Cannistraci said. "With the many privileges that COVID has taken away from us this year, I don't want sports to be one of them."

Some Penn State Altoona student-athletes had front row seats to the disappointment felt by seniors whose collegiate playing careers were ended midseason last spring. The Penn State Altoona baseball team was just nine games into its schedule last March when word was received that the season was postponed, then ultimately canceled. Tyler Manger, a senior pitcher, watched the Lions' seniors realize that they had played their last games, and it is a scenario he hopes doesn't happen again this spring.

"Having our season canceled last year made me realize how much I have taken playing sports competitively for granted," he explained. "Watching firsthand our seniors last year losing their last chance to play baseball competitively was a true heartbreaker, and it made me appreciate that I still have one more chance to play. I'm hoping to have a season because I want to play for the guys who weren't able to do it last year."

That motivation helped Manger and the team get back to work this fall. Despite question marks about the spring season's status, getting back to practices brought some structure to the players' lives while helping them prepare for games.

"Practicing this fall has been important to all of us on the baseball team because it brought back some normalcy, even though the way we do things is not the same as in past years," Manger said. "It is also hard to imagine jumping right into things in the spring without having a fall practice season, so it definitely has given me hope that we can play a full season in the spring."

While Cannistraci and Manger want to play this spring to cap off their collegiate careers with strong senior seasons, some underclassmen are hoping to compete to continue building momentum in their young careers.

Grace Dangelo, a sophomore on the women's swimming team, is coming off of a freshman campaign that saw her win the AMCC's Women's Swimmer of the Year and Women's Newcomer of the Year awards, take five first place finishes at the conference championship meet, and earn a league-high eight Women's Swimmer of the Week awards during the season. Knowing that personal and team improvements are within reach, she and her teammates have been happy to get back in the water this fall to prepare for a potential season in the spring.

"Ever since our championship meet this past February, I have had goals for this season," Dangelo said. "Whether it is dropping time in an event or seeing improvement in a stroke, I want to have a season so that I can reach my goals."

Dangelo is motivated even more by being around her fellow swimmers in a team setting.

"Being able to practice with my team gives me extra motivation to work out and stay in shape," she said. "Even though we distance ourselves at practice and cannot socialize outside of practices, we appreciate the opportunity that we have been given to practice and grow together throughout this fall season."

For some student-athletes, the chance to play in the spring would represent achieving a personal comeback. Men's basketball player Richard Dei-Kwarteng has not played since the 2018-19 season due to injury, and he has been rehabbing tirelessly to return to the court this year. Now that he is on the cusp of returning to game action, Dei-Kwarteng wants to bring all of his hard work in the training room to fruition.

"It would mean a lot to be able to finally play this season," he said. "It was tough to watch from the sidelines last year while not playing a part in the team's success."

For Dei-Kwarteng, just getting back onto the court with his teammates in a practice setting is fulfilling. He hopes that the team's hard work during fall semester practices can be put to good use in the spring.

"It's been important for us to be practicing this fall because it gives us the opportunity to stay ready and prepared until a final decision is made," Dei-Kwarteng said. "A lot of schools still aren't practicing, so we're blessed to have this opportunity."

Student-athletes' return to practices in their respective sports is important, of course, from a team perspective. The players and teams need to train, build chemistry, and be ready to perform in the spring, in the event that intercollegiate competition occurs.

But just as important are the positive effects on the individuals. During the COVID-19 pandemic, people have been forced to become more isolated while also losing significant aspects of their lives. For Penn State Altoona's student-athletes who have returned to regular practices with their teams this fall, getting a small sense of normalcy back – if only for a short period of time each day – means a lot.

"Whether our season will be happening or not, our team is a family. It's hard to not be around people all of the time, so going to practice and having a laugh with my teammates makes each day better," said Dangelo. "Practicing in the afternoons gives me a mental break from my classes before I begin studying at night, which helps me to stay focused."

That sense of community from a team is also important to Cannistraci during these challenging times.

"Being a part of the Penn State Altoona basketball and volleyball teams gives me the outlet I need to help me get through this pandemic," she said. "Being surrounded by such positive and supportive teammates and coaches really makes an impact on my wellbeing. I hope I can also do the same for my teammates and coaches."

Dei-Kwarteng also feels that belonging to a team helps everyone to stay in an optimistic mindset.

"Being part of the team means a lot to me during this time," he said. "Everyone is trying to stay positive during these times in hopes that things will get better and hopefully a season will arise."

For Manger, being the member of a team helps him realize that he is not alone in navigating the COVID-19 landscape of a college student-athlete.

"Being part of a team during a time like this means a lot more than people think, because I know I'm not going through certain struggles alone," he explained. "I know that there are about 30 other guys who are struggling with juggling Zoom classes, baseball practice, and just the day-to-day life of living through a pandemic. Knowing that other people are living similar lives as I am helps me see a light at the end of the tunnel."

As someone who interacts with student-athletes on a regular basis, Penn State Altoona head athletic trainer Jessica Welsh can easily see the benefit on athletes of returning to team activities. With all of the chaos thrust upon college student-athletes in the midst of a global pandemic, getting back to practices with teammates can make a big difference on individuals' mental health.

"It gives them a sense of purpose, and they're working together to achieve a goal. Right now, we could all use a sense of purpose in these everchanging times," said Welsh. "Mental health is at the forefront of concern with students and student-athletes alike. Doing physical activity is good for your stress level and helps with endorphin levels."

Welsh has been impressed with the diligence and work ethic that Penn State Altoona's student-athletes have displayed during their return to practice this fall. She believes that, amid all of the uncertainty this year, the student-athletes are finding a simple joy in playing their sports.

"The student-athletes are very eager to have any form of participation. With the sudden closure in March, many of our seniors did not get to have a senior day or even say goodbye – it was just suddenly a chapter that was over," Welsh said. "I think our student-athletes are finding gratitude in being able to participate, even if it is just practice. They get to come together and forget about life's challenges and put their time and energy into the sport they love."