Delanie Hill’s skills as a defender have helped Marian University win nearly 70 percent of its women’s soccer matches over the past three seasons.
As is the case with all soon-to-be seniors, Hill wonders if she will have a fourth.
“There is always that thought. It’s been kind of an emotional roller coaster,” said Hill, a big part of the Knights shutting out 16 opponents on their way to a 20-3-3 record last season and a runner-up finish at the NAIA national tournament in Orange Beach, Alabama.
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“We played only one of our three spring games before the others were canceled. Our coach told us to work out on our own and finish the semester strong, so it was a hard pill to swallow.”
In the meantime, Hill, who started 23 of 26 matches last season and was named All-Crossroads League, has two or three Zoom video meetings weekly with teammates and coaches. Marian strength coach Kristine Grohnke loads soccer-specific workouts on an app so Knights players can work out at their own pace.
Marian is scheduled — for now — to play an exhibition match at Butler on Aug. 14 and begin its regular season six days later at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida.
The University of Indianapolis, meanwhile, opens its football season at home Sept. 3 against Ashland.
Senior safety Connor Steeb, a Center Grove graduate who led the Greyhounds with 65 tackles last season, wants things to proceed normally, but knows that might not happen.
“My biggest fear is not having a season. If I was guaranteed a season, my biggest fear would be guys not preparing right from both teams,” Steeb said. “Are they lifting weights? Are they running? Are they just chilling at home eating their mom’s cooking and playing video games?”
Even if games are played, the potential for injuries would increase if players aren’t physically and mentally prepared for the rigors of a season. Meanwhile, the quality of play would often fail to live up to past standards.
Steeb was working out at home with weights in his garage. He’s now back on campus and lifting every day at a friend’s house in order to keep his 5-foot-9, 210-pound frame in the best shape possible.
Former Center Grove and Indiana University placekicker Nate Snyder entered the transfer portal in March and is now preparing to play his final season at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, a Sun Belt Conference team.
Snyder, who handled kickoffs for the Hoosiers last season, believes the Ragin’ Cajuns will still be taking the field for their opener at home against McNeese State on Sept. 5.
“I think, yes, there will be a season. I don’t think it will be normal, by any means,” Snyder said. “It’s going to be different, that’s for sure. But I’m looking forward to it.”
On March 30, roughly a week after Snyder announced he would be transferring, the NCAA announced it would grant spring sport athletes an extra year of eligibility after their season was shortened by the coronavirus outbreak.
Hill hopes not to end up in a position to eventually be presented the same opportunity.
“It’s definitely something I would think about,” Hill said. “If we get to that point, we’ll have to reevaluate, but right now there’s still hope.”
Steeb, too, would have to give thought to possibly playing college football again in 2021, even though he plans to already have his MBA by then. Steeb redshirted as a freshman at Marian before transferring to UIndy).
“That’s a tough one,” he said. “Right now, I would say yes.”
