Chapman fall sporting events return after full season away
Chapman athletics look to safely bring back both players and fans for the 2021-2022 season. DANIEL PEARSON, Staff Photographer
The return of in-person classes means Chapman fall athletes will once again compete after a year-long hiatus — and they couldn’t be more elated.
In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) issued a wide-encompassing suspension of sporting and championship events in accordance with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Resocialization recommendations. Chapman Athletics followed suit July 24, 2020, placing a restriction on conference competition for NCAA-categorized high-risk sports during the 2020-2021 school year.
Joey Olshaussen, a junior human physiology major and wide receiver for Chapman’s football team, is ready to play — regardless of whether the fans will be there to cheer the team on.
“I’m excited; we’d rather play with fans for sure,” Olshaussen said. “Honestly, if fans become more restricted, we’d figure out how to put in the work and put it all together.”
In 2019, Chapman’s football team finished the season with a record of 10-1, earning an NCAA playoff win before losing to St. John's University, a Division III liberal arts college based in Minnesota.
“There were a decent amount (of fans), especially toward the end, around playoff time,” Olshaussen said.
However, student-athletes who were able to participate in the 2020 season noticed a significant change in attendance.
Anderson Marks, a junior international business major and goalie for Chapman’s lacrosse team, pointed out noticeable differences between this year and last year’s competitions..
“We didn't get to play as many games (compared to 2019), since the season started so late,” Marks said. “No fans or fraternities supporting at the games like in 2019. No one was allowed to attend the national tournament either, even family.”
Chapman alumna Steven Olveda, who now works as the sports information director, helps inform all Chapman sports about COVID-19 safety protocols and strategies for ensuring the safety of fans who decide to attend sporting events.
“We will work with the university guidelines as they come out,” Olveda said. “All visitors need to fill out a health screening just like the students do every day. Games with over 1,000 students will require masks, which will apply to most football games. As of now, we strongly recommend (masks) at all other events and will require them at indoor sporting events like volleyball.”
For the upcoming season, Chapman will allow up to 5,000 fans per event. Event protocols are posted online and updated routinely.
Student athletes are enthusiastically counting down the days until their friends and family can watch them play from the stands.
“I’m excited, especially to see family and friends during and after the game,” Marks said. “Fans are the best part of lacrosse by far.”