Wake Forest Athletics
Demon Deacon Student-Athletes Adjust to Extraordinary Circumstances
3/20/2020 10:00:00 AM | Field Hockey, Football, Men's Basketball, Les Johns
Wake Forest’s student-athletes are getting set for a new journey in which they will be away from their teammates and coaches while they embark in remote classes starting Monday.
From the Quad with John Currie -- COVID-19 Update
By Les Johns
In an unprecedented response to the threat presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, Wake Forest student-athletes have been uprooted from their classrooms, playing fields and seasons.
Abruptly sent back home to facilitate 'social distancing,' Wake's student-athletes are getting set for a new journey in which they will be away from their teammates and coaches while they embark in remote classes and personalized training regimens.
"It's a combination of football and athletics," safety Luke Masterson said. "Every student-athlete, that is their focus when they go to a school like Wake Forest — their sport and their academics. We're doing both of those from home now, so it's trying to stay in shape and workout while also trying to figure out how to go about this remote-learning school system. It's a little tough, but everyone is in the same situation across the country."
The football Deacs had completed five spring camp practices of the 15 allowed prior to spring break, with practices slated to continue March 17. That was the day the ACC officially cancelled all spring sport activities. A week prior, Wake Forest cancelled classes from March 16-22 and announced a resumption of classes in a virtual setting starting March 23.
"The ACC putting out there that all schools were suspending athletics put everyone in the same boat, and helps," Masterson said. "There's not another school out there practicing and gaining a competitive advantage.
"It's been kind of chaotic, not just with Wake, but with the nation as a whole as we try to figure out how to attack this virus. We're trying to figure out what steps are necessary to try to control it. Obviously every school is dealing with the same thing, and we are trying to do our part to help out."
A Naples, Florida native, Masterson feels thankful to live in a climate conducive to getting his workouts in open outdoor spaces.
"I'm fortunate here that we have a lot of public parks and outdoor space to do field work," he said. "Across the country, all these gyms are closing, and I know not everybody is as lucky to have space to go do stuff. It's definitely a challenge. It's going to be tough to do what they need to do to stay in shape."
Chaundee Brown, a junior basketball player, returned home to Orlando Sunday.
"I'm doing well," he said. "I'm just resting my body for a week or two and then I'm going to begin working out. I've spent some time with my family, and watched some movies.
"I'm keeping in touch with the staff. They tell us to stay safe and want us to be ready for the remote-learning classes. They want us to finish the semester strong."
Though the basketball Deacs had already finished their season, Brown is close with a vast array of Wake Forest student-athletes, many of whom had their seasons abruptly cancelled midstream.
"I have a few friends who play spring sports that got cancelled," Brown said. "I'm really cool with a lot of baseball players and have classes with them. I know they have to be disgusted. It's hard for the seniors to go out like that. I pray that God does something for them to make up for this."
Alexis Grippo, who is getting set for her senior season on Jen Averill's field hockey team, went home to New Jersey for spring break with just a duffel bag full of essentials, expecting to be there for just a single week.
"I left everything on campus," Grippo said. "It's weird not knowing when I'm going to be able to go back to Wake and see all my friends and teammates.
"My teachers have been great about putting everything online, so I haven't had to go back to Wake to get anything yet."
The field hockey Deacs made the NCAA Final Four in 2018, and are working to get back to that level in 2020.
"We were playing really well the last couple weeks and had great steam as we rolled ahead into the spring," Grippo said. "Our fitness was really good and improving. We played well in our scrimmage against Davidson. It's a bummer that we're not going to have the opportunity to continue to compete. I can't even imagine what it would be like for an in-season senior to not be able to compete one final time.
"It's important for us to keep our fitness up, so that when we get back to Wake we're ready to play hockey at a high level."
Though both normal gyms and hockey-specific gyms are closed in her area, Grippo said there are other areas that work in order to get training.
"You just need a turf field and a place to run," she said. "We're lucky that our sport doesn't require anything. You just need running shoes and a place to go on a long-distance run. Everyone is going makeshift and trying to find their own routine and place, but I think our team is quite disciplined about doing so.
"It's so weird not having that final junior spring to ease into your senior fall. It just means we really have to hit the ground running when we get back."
Though everything has been topsy-turvy the last couple weeks, Grippo has been able to stay in the loop through all the changes.
"Jen has been super awesome sharing information," she said. "I feel really informed about the athletic department's policies, goals and intentions. Communication has been great. We also have our own group chat and check in with each other frequently."
Masterson has had the same experience with the football staff.
"It's been great," he said. "They've kept us up to date with all the changes and making sure everyone has what they need to take care of school and stay in shape. They've done as much as they can. It's tough for them as well right now. They're trying to figure out how to go through all this as well. It's uncharted territory for everyone."
Through texts and social media, Masterson has also been in constant contact with his teammates.
"Pretty much everyday," he said. "We're all trying to stay close to each other and help each other make it through this. It's difficult for everyone in different ways.
"Hopefully we get control of this virus and things will start opening back up again."
