Photo by Brittany Cruz-Fejeran / Staff
The Feet of Victory—Quintin Vinzant wins first place at Mesa College.
By Michael Bravo
Coronavirus caused the world to call timeout on sports this season, but community college athletes were given an opportunity to make up for their silent spring.
On March 19—10 days before the NCAA made a similar vote—the California Community College Athletic Association announced it would grant spring athletes an extra year of eligibility to make up for cancelled seasons. Southwestern College coaches welcomed the news.
Head softball coach Yasmine Mossadeghi said five sophomores plan to use their extended eligibility in 2021. She said their return will bring some much-needed depth to the Jaguars’ roster—the team only had 14 players this season.
“We had a small team to begin with, so there will be an opportunity to have a more average size team for next season,” she said.
SWC’s track and field team should see a similar boost, said head coach Tonie Campbell.
“Our team will not suffer in quality and will grow in size,” he said.
Baseball head coach Jay Martel was the outlier. He said the extra year of eligibility will not have much effect because many sophomores are transferring to universities. Even so, he said he is enthusiastic about how his 2021 team is shaping up.
“Recruiting has gone really well,” he said. “We already have a good group for next year and most of my key (freshmen) are returning.”
Shelter-in-place orders have wreaked havoc with many academic, performance and publication programs, but the coaching trio said they have worked to stay sharp and keep things positive.
Coaching, Campbell said, is a profession that requires great amounts of time, effort and passion. Passion, he said, is hard to express through a screen.
“Coaching is a face-to-face interaction,” he said.“It is hands on.”
Campbell’s concerns run deep, he said, because his ability to recruit, instruct and observe are hindered at home. He said many coaches’ responses have been “lackluster,” something the Olympic silver medalist promised never to be.
Martel said he and his staff have focused on making the transition as seamless as possible.
“We have done a fantastic job of communicating with the players,” he said.
Mossadeghi said she shifted her coaching online and gave players strategies to continue developing their talents.
“Efforts were put into meetings with each player on what the next step will be for them individually,” she said.
With the 2020 spring seasons cancelled and sophomores offered a do over, unique ethical and fairness questions come into play. Some coaches and players have pondered whether it is fair to hold a player’s spot on the roster now that the season is null and void, even though new players will try out next year?
Mossadeghi was quick to reassure sophomores on the softball team their spots are safe in 2021.
“I am excited to have everyone back and am excited for this new challenge ahead,” she said.
Campbell said the track and field roster will also keep its sophomores.
“Athletes will be invited to rejoin the team as long as they remain in good standing academically and physically,” he said.
Martel said he still feels competing for a spot is healthy for his team.
“I like to give sophomores plenty of chances to win a starting spot, as they are usually farther along than incoming freshmen,” he said.
Athletes who quit or were cut from before the season was interrupted by Gov. Newsom’s March 12 shelter-in-place order will not receive an extra year of eligibility. Only spring athletes are eligible for the extension.
