Stephen Slezak, Campus Carrier asst. sports editor
In March of 2020, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) allowed for athletes affected by Covid-19 to play an extra year of college sports. Berry baseball player Nick Brunswick and soccer player Tracy Moon both were granted an extra year of athletic participation because of this decision.
The fifth-year seniors across collegiate athletics are the last class to have experienced COVID-19 in college sports. The graduating class of 2024 has endured a period unlike any other class currently at Berry, where seasons were postponed and strict health protocols were implemented. Both Brunswick and Moon shared what their experience was like dealing with the virus while representing Berry.
“Before we would do conditioning or come out to the baseball field, we would do testing for [COVID-19] two to three times per week,” Brunswick said. “If a guy was around someone that had [COVID-19], there’s a chance you would be away from the team for some time.”
Moon said that a canceled season ended up being a positive experience for him in some ways during his freshman year.
“It ended up being a blessing for me,” Moon said. “It was just training in the fall. I was allowed to adapt to the team and adapt to the dynamics of the team. I was able to train up to the level of where I needed to be.”
Brunswick is grateful for the opportunity to return back to Berry for his last season as a Viking.
“I am with a great group of guys, guys that I consider family,” Brunswick said. “I love Coach Beasley, I love the whole atmosphere here and I feel comfortable here. The opportunity that Beasley gave me to come back and play is awesome.”
When a student-athlete takes their fifth year at a school, they have the opportunity to enter the transfer portal to go out and find a new school. Moon speaks on his experience with that.
“I love Berry, I think it is an awesome place,” Moon said. “I don’t think I would want to play anywhere else. After the four years I experienced here, it is an awesome community, and I wanted to be able to still dwell in that community — play the sport I loved at the school I love. I didn’t really consider any other schools.”
The experience of being a fifth-year athlete is unique on its in own. As an undergraduate the class schedules are different as the graduate student-athletes have to go about their day differently than others.
“I would say it is a lot easier,” Brunswick said. “My classes are Monday through Thursday from 6:00-8:45 p.m. I have the morning to early afternoon to do whatever, but it kind of stinks because I have to leave early from practice to go to class. It helps me learn my time management.”
With five years of college experience, these athletes bring valuable leadership to the team and set a strong example for younger players. They understand the demands and challenges of playing at the college level. Moon shared his advice for the young college athletes, encouraging them to stay resilient in their sport.
“It’s easy to base your identity in your sport, to judge your attitude and mood based on how you are performing,” Moon said. “The games where you perform really well, it is nice to have that high. When you are not performing so well, it is easy to get in that low. If you can pull your identity away from your sport and approach it with joy and gratitude, it is a privilege to get to play in college. You’ll have [a much] better experience.”
Brunswick shares similar thoughts on what he would tell the incoming freshman athletes.
“All the hard work will play off,” Brunswick said. “When you don’t feel like doing something, that is the time to do it. The harder you work, you might not get the outcome you want right away, but over time you will figure it out. Keep working hard and do not worry about the future.”
The experiences of Nick Brunswick and Tracy Moon emphasize the resilience and growth that emerged from a challenging period of college athletics. Their stories show the unique impact of COVID-19 on college athletes and the lessons they learned through the adversity. Now as fifth-year seniors, both Brunswick and Moon have stepped into leadership roles and set an example for their teammates. As they and the other fifth-year seniors conclude their time at Berry, they leave behind a legacy of hard work and to appreciate the sport they love playing.