When the Covid-19 pandemic began to make waves around the country the athletic department here at Viterbo began working with president Temple to ensure not only student, student-athletes would be able to return to campus. The athletic department was in a tight spot when students were sent home in mid-march because like everyone else they had no idea what the future would hold. When speaking to Barry Fried, Viterbo’s athletic director, he broke down how he and the athletic department made the adjustment to safely bring student-athletes back and have them competing again.
Fried and the athletic department went to work right away with the hope that students would be able to return to campus in the fall. They came up with a detailed plan of scenarios for fall sports operations. They were able to come up with four contingency plans; On Time, Delayed, Postponed, or Cancelled. Ultimately this was decided by the NAIA when it was announced there would be a delayed start to all fall sports, with this decision this made it possible to have a fall season.
Fried’s next step was to go through the phases to slowly bring staff and students back. The first step was to prepare the campus for the return of staff and students. The next step was to bring back the staff in three phases, next was to bring student-athletes back and begin practice, lastly the real test was returning to competition. Prior to returning to competition, there were protocols and restrictions put in place for home and away teams which include random covid screening and physical distancing during any kind of practice.
They were able to access the risk level associated with each fall sport, rating them from low risk to high risk. Thus far all of the precautions the athletic department has put in place have worked through fall sports. Looking forward to winter sports Fried is cautiously planning for all scenarios that could play out. He faces a tough challenge with the upcoming mid-semester break and thanksgiving break due to students going home and possibly bring the virus back to campus. The rising cases in La Crosse poses a big problem moving forward because La Crosse county determines if the campus will remain open. But Fried and the athletic department are working with the county and the school to make the necessary preparations, so students can remain on campus and athletes are able to stay out there and compete.
