Fall break is the first break that students are excused from campus for a week, but student-athletes that participate in fall and winter seasons spend this week on campus. With the removed stress of academics, fall break is a time to focus on practice and team-bonding.
Besides the first Sunday, the volleyball team spends the majority of fall break on campus. Although it is an additional week focused on volleyball, Senior Meaghan Etling considers the training to be similar to normal practices. “We are nearing the end of our season so most of our practices are more focused on how we can prepare for the specific teams we are playing instead of on individual skills,” Etling said.
The time that the volleyball team spends together outside of practice is what Etling enjoys the most. The volleyball team already has planned ways to fill their time with one another and supporting other teams. “We spend almost everyday together anyway, but this year we are bowling with the men's basketball team and are planning on going to covered bridge as a team,” Etling said. “We are also going to support the men's soccer team at one of their games.”
Now being a senior on the football team, Demarco Henry has spent three fall breaks on campus. Henry claims that fall break consists of the normal practice schedule topped with extra meetings. Outside of practice, Henry sees fall break as extra time to spend with the team. “We have more time outside of class so we go over to each other’s houses more, see movies, go bowling, and explore the greater greencastle area,” Henry said.
Assistant football coach Clay Mannering considers fall break to be a nice mental break for athletes to solely focus on their sport and gain momentum for their upcoming games. Though, he has noticed that first years seem more reluctant to stay than their older peers. “I get the sense that a lot of freshmen are a little home sick and would like to go home,” Mannering said. “But the upperclassmen would rather stay here. They would stay here 365 days of the year if they could.”
Fall break also marks the start of official training for winter sports. First-year basketball player Nick Whissel will be spending his first fall break on campus. Echoing Mannering, Whissel said that if it were not for basketball, he would have liked to go home.
Besides the full practice schedule starting Monday, Whissel sees this time as a good opportunity to bond with his team and relax. “We have [planned] fun activities like going to support the women’s volleyball team and stuff like that,” Whissel said. “I am looking forward to hanging out with my friends and not needing to do homework.”
Similar to basketball, the swim team also starts its official training over fall break. Despite having practice twice a day, first-year swimmer Josh Pool is looking forward to spending his first fall break on campus. “I am excited to train because it means that I am getting better,” Pool said. “I would rather stay here. The team is very close, we are practically a family.”
