‘What am I doing this for?’: the Chapman athletics remote experience

Many athletes chose to stay home for the fall and spring semesters, leaving them distant from their teammates. Photo courtesy of Larry Newman

From the sunny islands of Hawaii to the snowy mountains of Washington, many Chapman athletes are experiencing all kinds of seasons — but far away from their usual athletic ones.

After returning home last March when sports were initially shut down, many athletes were left with a difficult decision come August; should they stay home or return to campus, hoping against all odds there’d be a season for them to come back to?

Riley Sellers, a freshman volleyball player originally from Seattle, Washington, decided to stay at her cabin in Wenatchee, Washington, with her family to save her the hassle of moving. With a full-time job at home, it made sense to stay and travel to Orange later if COVID-19 case rates improved, she said. However, as a freshman, Sellers is sad she missed out on the opportunity to bond with her teammates face-to-face. 

“It’s been hard, because the idea of going to college has been something that you've had in your mind growing up and it’s a lot different from what I thought I would have and what I am actually doing,” Sellers said. “I miss being part of a team because that was something I was really looking forward to.”

Fellow volleyball player Kelcie Albano also found herself traveling home to Aiea, Hawaii, choosing to stay there due to lower COVID-19 case rates and looser protocols compared to California. While it’s a bittersweet feeling, as a sophomore, Albano has had the prior experience of building in-person connection with her teammates, which she’s been able to hold onto across the ocean. 

Ultimately, Albano and Sellers have decided to stay home for the rest of the semester. 

“I am still keeping in shape and in touch with my teammates as much as I can,” Albano said. “I miss all of my teammates and the social aspect, but even if I were to be there, it would still be hard because of social distancing,” 

Closer to campus, senior women’s basketball player Orel Shilon is residing at her home in Palos Verdes, about an hour west of Orange. Shilon figured she could simply drive down to Chapman when the time came to play a season, but was relegated generally to working out from home. 

“As a senior, it’s hard, but I’ve had the support of my friends and family,” Shilon said. “Knowing that some of my teammates are going through the same thing makes the process a little bit easier to digest.”

Similar to Shilon, Albano and Sellers are continuing to work out regularly. And while it may be difficult to stay motivated with the uncertainty of the future, they’re all preparing themselves as best as possible for whatever comes next. 

“It’s definitely hard because without a season, it’s like, ‘What am I doing this for?’” Albano said. “But what motivates me most is that once I am able to go back, I’ll be ready and I won’t be out of shape. I’m looking forward to what’s coming up.”