Student athletes share their routines during isolation

By: Deanna Biondi
Staff Writer

With the recent closure of UMW’s campus and the cancellation of all group activities through the end of the current spring semester, student athletes have had to come to terms with what this situation means for themselves and their team.

As the weeks pass by and allow the UMW community to settle into this new reality, student athletes have shared how they are staying involved in their sport and keeping up a routine to stay in shape, all while following social distancing practices to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Tory Martin, a junior history major on the women’s basketball team, makes sure to maintain the daily structure that in-person classes provided.
“Usually I wake up and go for a run around my neighborhood to start my day,” she said about her daily strategies to stay in shape. “I try to make sure I do at least one activity per day that is beneficial to my health, whether it’s just going on a walk or a YouTube workout in my living room.”

As for her involvement in basketball, Martin has not let the situation dampen her passion for the sport. “I’ve been watching a lot of basketball on TV, even some of our old games. I also try talking to at least one or two of my teammates every day to stay in touch and check in with them,” said Martin.

Similarly, Katherine Brady, a sophomore nursing major on the women’s soccer team, has set up a routine to keep herself organized and motivated. “I usually like to wake up and get some breakfast first. Then, I would get some homework done and then do a little at-home workout and finish that off with a run.”

The closure of gyms and local soccer fields have led Brady to stay inside while staying in shape. “I never really liked doing at-home workouts, but recently I have enjoyed setting aside just 20 minutes to do a full-body workout. It is an effective workout that doesn’t take too long or take up a lot of space,” said Brady.

These closures, however, haven’t stopped her from making soccer part of her routine. “I like to do some small drills in my yard with a ball. Sometimes, I like to get together with friends and do some passing and shooting drills.”

Crista Cardillo, a senior biology major on the women’s soccer team, tries to keep some variation in her day-to-day activities. “I have settled into a daily routine of getting up around 9 a.m. for classes, then either going for a long run or sprints one day and then switching to interval training the next to keep things interesting.”

She tries to make soccer part of her daily routine despite the recent closures. “I have been able to go outside on some grass and kick the ball around and juggle a bit. Unfortunately, all of the fields are closed so I am not able to utilize those.”

Cardillo also shared her tips for working out at home. “I would say the best one for me is get up and get it done. I feel better getting up earlier in the day and getting my workout in before the afternoon because it’s a good start to my day and then I won’t put it off and end up not doing it,” said Cardillo.
As one of the three women’s soccer team captains for the upcoming season, Cardillo shared her feelings about how recent events have affected her team, and her hope for how things will play out going forward.

“Coming off a really good season with winning the CAC championship and making it to the second round in NCAA’s, it was a way for us to come together and put work in towards next season,” said Cardillo. “Now, as we will still be doing that, it will just have to be individual which is not ideal but we will make it work.”