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IVCCD athletics rising to COVID challenge

T-R FILE PHOTO The Iowa Valley Community College District had to alter the sporting seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The athletic departments at all three campuses have had to do extensive planning to ensure the student athletes stay safe from the virus.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created many athletic changes in the Iowa Valley Community College District (IVCCD).

Marshalltown Community College Director of Athletics John Kriebs and Ellsworth Community College Director of Athletics and Student Life Nate Forsyth told the IVCCD Board of Directors about the changes at the regular Wednesday meeting.

“All these changes that we’ve been going through, it’s been quite stunning how it literally is changing day by day,” Kriebs said. “The coaches have been awesome and the athletic trainers and everybody’s been working for the same goal and pulling the rope in the same direction.”

Forsyth said the athletic departments on the three campuses have had to deal with numerous changes since the spring months – starting with the cancellation of sports. That was the toughest part for Forsyth. From there, they had to figure out how to proceed into the summer and fall.

“What we ultimately decided is we’re going to move the majority of our seasons from the fall to the spring this year,” he said. “The only sports not affected were cross country and tennis.”

Forsyth said he held Zoom meetings with players and their families so they knew ahead of time what the future looked like. Kriebs said he spent a lot of time motivating and encouraging the coaches, telling them there was light at the end of the tunnel.

Forsyth said keeping the students engaged was very important as the plan was figured out. He had numerous meetings with students as the year began, with a focus placed on getting them to know each other and establish a good momentum.

“It was a very challenging summer for a lot of student athletes,” Forsyth said. “Easily, they could have decided ‘I’m not going to continue with athletics.'”

Some challenges the athletic department had to deal with is traveling, which requires face masks. Students also do not go to restaurants at games. Rather, food is brought to fields.

Kriebs said he has been amazed at the number of people who have risen to the challenge and excelled at it.

“Coaches and everybody involved is trying to get time for these students and athletes to get out there and practice,” Kriebs said. “It’s going to be an interesting spring for sure when we’ve got all the sports going.”

He said everyone needs to have their temperature taken before entering any athletic room or facility or leaving for a game. Forms are also filled out to ensure everyone is safe.

Forsyth said the challenge upon student-athlete return in January is transportation and facing the possibility of rescheduled game dates. In the event of away games, the host school is sent information about the IVCCD student athletes who will be in attendance. When it comes to home games, Forsyth said the gymnasium is thoroughly cleaned – even between games.

Having fans at IVCCD games is not something Kriebs or Forsyth are comfortable with because of cross-contamination.

“It’s a lot for us to police, as well,” Forsyth said.

A motion-detected streaming service for games is new this year and Forsyth said the service is sensitive to faces and player numbers, so it will be “top notch.”

The last hurdle is establishing a sport schedule. Forsyth said baseball and softball typically travel out-of-state.

“We’ve got a lot of challenges ahead of us,” he said.

Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 or lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.

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