LSC announces fall season postponement

Perhaps someone who didn't see it coming could be termed an eternal optimist.

Whatever the case, expected or unexpected, it came - the Lone Star Conference announced Friday that it is postponing its fall season, at least a bit, which will impact Eastern New Mexico University athletics.

An LSC press release on Friday afternoon stated: "Given the uncertainty associated with COVID-19 and the need to fully assess the ability of member institutions to adhere to the NCAA guidelines for return to practice and competition, the Lone Star Conference Council of Presidents voted to delay the start of practice for all fall sports to no earlier than (Aug. 24)."

Fall sports competition will begin no earlier than the week of Sept. 21. LSC officials will reconvene before the start of the fall season to review updated public health information and any new directives or information from federal, state and local officials to make a final determination regarding fall sports, the release said.

Every fall sport is affected, not just contact sports like in the New Mexico Activities Association. And Greyhound coaches, contact and non-contact, have to deal with it.

On the subject of the latter, there is Jeff Kavalunas, ENMU men's and women's cross country head coach, who when reached by the Eastern New Mexico News on Friday afternoon had just left the meeting in which he found out about the LSC's decision.

"Six weeks ago it was looking pretty good," Kavalunas said. "We were excited, trying to stay positive about getting things started.

"But safety first; we understand that," Kavalunas continued. "There are just so many moving pieces right now - what the NCAA is thinking right now, what can we handle safely with the return, participation guidelines that are coming out.

"I guess right now it's better than having it canceled. With the delay we can work with that and try to readjust schedules and see what happens as we get to the end of the month (of August) with regard to the season."

Kavalunas had hoped that LSC cross country would be viewed the same as the NMAA views it.

"We're a pretty low-risk sport," he said, "so it's a little bit tougher to take. Compared to football and soccer it's low-risk."

Not that those involved in higher-contact sports aren't just as disappointed. But they're taking it as it comes.

"It just buys us a little bit more time to ultimately make whatever decision needs to be made. I think some of that stuff's over my pay grade," Eastern men's soccer head coach Jon Fridal said. "We're going to keep planning on playing, and if we find out once we get closer that they changed their minds, then they changed their minds."

Adjusting on the fly seems to be the theme of 2020, in and out of the sports realm. And that's what Eastern coaches will do.

"I've been talking to some of my seniors about redshirting until things settle down," Kavalunas said, "maybe save that year for next year."

"Obviously there's a lot of uncertainty right now," Fridal said, "because you're sitting there and you're watching all these other conferences make different decisions - some are playing in the spring, some are playing a little later than we are. It's nice to know that we're still planning on playing.

"At this point you can't worry about things that are out of your control," Fridal added. "I'm at that point when I'm finally realizing that you've got to work with what you've got. It's easier said than done, but whatever they say we're going to do, we'll do. We're a resilient group here at Eastern; I think we'll get through this."