Besides keeping in shape for their sports, the Gaels have enjoyed the summer break despite the coronavirus pandemic. 

Athletes like senior and lacrosse player Paulina Perkovich made sure to enjoy their time off of school and take their minds off of things by hanging out by the beach with friends and playing in a pickup lacrosse summer league. 

This isn’t to say the pandemic wasn’t a looming worry to keep in mind, though. 

“The pandemic affected activities that I would normally do with my friends as far as going out to dinner,” Perkovich said via email. “We could only have six people at a table and we were not able to get up and walk around in the restaurants.” 

Despite having time off, keeping in shape remained a priority for Gaels during the break. Athletes kept their routines up throughout the summer and some have been in touch with their Iona coaches and high school coaches to help them train. 

Junior and men’s cross-country runner Damien Dilcher did his best to keep in shape over the break. His mentality in the sport was helped by his coaches. 

“My coaches have not hosted Zoom practices, but they have had team meetings just to give updates and get us refocused on what’s to come,” Dilcher said via email. “Our captains have been very good with Zoom core sessions and stuff every Saturday, just to keep the team spirit and mentality involved in a time where we need one another the most.” 

Some even had their old coaches help them out. Sophomore and men’s cross-country runner Lachlan Wellington was able to get some reps in during the summer. 

“As lockdown was eased, my high school coach was able to coach in person up to five people, as long as social distancing was practiced,” Wellington said via email. 

The Gaels continue to practice and keep in form throughout the fall, despite the cancellation of the fall season by the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.