The Current | Vol. 31 Issue 23

February 23, 2021 | nsucurrent.nova.edu 9 Sports A swimmers perspective on the impact of COVID-19 Dustin Pedroia’s retirement After 14 seasons, Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia hung up his jersey for the last time, announcing his retirement on Feb. 1. In the 2020 season, Pedroia did not end up making it out on the field for one game. He only ended up playing nine games in the past three seasons due to a knee injury in 2017 that took the best of him. In an interview with ESPN, Pedroia said, “My biggest thing in my mind was that it could’ve been my last game and you don’t know. That’s the best way I could have approached it from little league on.” The 37-year-old, always had the mindset that every game could be his last. In 2019 when he played his very last game, he never knew he wouldn’t be stepping back on the field. The knee injury turned into a career ending journey for number 15. Dustin Pedroia was old the moment he stepped onto the Fenway field. This knee injury never went away nor was it ever fixed. Pedroia’s body caught up to him and he struggled even to run. Although his years were cut short, the player did have some incredible moments on the field. This includes him getting Rookie of the Year and MVP, along with winning two World Series. For any player, sitting back and watching your team play is hard. It’s not like he didn’t try, either. If anything, he tried harder than anyone. He kept trying and trying, but always got the same end result. He just couldn’t. His time out on the field will be something no one ever forgets. He took advantage of every game and he knew quitting and giving up was not the answer. Trainers, doctors and coaches all told him “No” back in 2017, but he still managed to play for two more years, despite not playing every game. In 2020, the player suffered another setback in the rehabilitation of his surgicially repaired left knee that made him not play a single game that season. Pedroia has had his fair share of injuries along with his many memorable moments in his career. He is a player who never gave up. Although it is sad to see him go, he will always be a special part of the Red Sox family. Number 15 hangs up his jersey for the last time never thinking it would be his last in 2019. Take that in… Life happens, so cherish every game, every moment. You may never know you’re playing your last game. Being a college athlete isn’t easy, and being a college athlete during a pandemic makes it even harder. During these times, it is very important for athletes to stay safe and stay COVID-19-free so that their teams can practice and workout as usual. With that said, there is pressure associated with athletes trying to keep themselves and their teammates virus free. NSU women’s swimmer Haley Watters, an SSC Commissioner’s Honor Roll recipient, is one of the many athletes at NSU and around the country navigating her senior year through a pandemic that has not only affected her athletic career, but her life in general. “I can’t say my life has changed too much other than needing to wear a mask, using a Sway app to track my health, and not having visitors in the dorms,” Watters said. Ask any athlete and they’ll tell you that their routine is everything to them. Routines are imperative to our bodies, especially ones that endure the stress of being an athlete. For example, now seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady credits his routine as a large part of his success. Watters’ daily routine consists of “getting up for an early swim around 5 a.m., grabbing a small snack and heading off to practice. Once practice finishes, [she] comes home to eat breakfast and will work on homework or go to class. Later in the day, [she] heads off to weights on dryland. [Then, the team] hops back in the pool for another swim, and as soon as [they] finish, [they] put masks on. Once the swim is over, [Watters and her roommate] come home to make dinner together, watch tv and do some homework.” Now, her routine includes the constant use of Sway, an app that tracks her health. Being an athlete in these times is rough since a positive COVID-19 test is the equivalent of a two-week injury which includes complete isolation from the team and rest which can impact performance. Additionally, if an athlete is deemed to have “close contact” to a positive player, they are in self-isolation until their COVID-19 test results are back. If multiple players are deemed “close contacts,” this can cause entire practices or workouts to be cancelled. Because of the effect getting COVID-19 has on athletics, there is a lot of pressure for athletes to keep themselves and their teammates COVID-19 free. “We’re held to a high standard in athletics to make sure that we are doing what we can to stay safe for ourselves and others… The constant testing doesn’t bother me at all. Honestly, I prefer it because I know that my health is being prioritized and I don’t see any harm in getting constantly tested. It helps ensure that all 60 of us are safe around each other,” Watters said. Every student-athlete is experiencing similar restrictions because of the pandemic. According to Watters, “The most difficult thing by far is not being able to compete normally. Usually, we have a six to seven month-long competition season. This year, it was one month.” Being an athlete right now is harder than ever before due to COVID-19. Seniors that envisioned their final year with a conference championship may not even get a chance. This, unfortunately, is a sad reality for Watters and the NSU women’s swimming team. “Our bigger meets, such as conferences, have been cancelled. It’s hard being a senior and not having the big finish I imagined and saw all my past teammates get,” said Watters. For more information on the COVID-19 guidelines in the Sunshine State Conference, visit https://sunshinestateconference.com/ news/2020/12/8/general-sunshine-state- conference-update-regarding-fall-and-winter- sports.aspx. By: Abigail Johnson Contributing Writer By: Blake Malick Contributing Writer PHOTO PRINTED PERMISSION BY H. WATTERS Watters, top row on the right, poses with her teammates in masks at Fort Lauderdale Beach