Local athletes affected by schedule changes stay positive

<p>University of Indianapolis right tackle Clay Hadley spent two weeks in July quarantining himself after testing positive for COVID-19.</p><p>The experience further solidified the senior’s belief that a spring football season, while different than the sport’s traditional autumn landing spot, is the safest and smartest option moving forward.</p><p>On July 27, the Great Lakes Valley Conference, the Division II league that UIndy plays in, and the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference, home of Franklin College, announced they were moving four high-risk fall sports — football, volleyball and men’s and women’s soccer — to later in the 2020-21 school year because of the ongoing pandemic.</p><p>Last week, the HCAC also moved the remainder of its other fall sports to the spring.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]<p>“I think we have a chance to make a run at the conference championship and a national championship,” said Hadley, a Center Grove product named first team all-conference after each of his first three seasons as a starter on the Greyhounds’ offensive line.</p><p>“This is kind of a blessing in disguise because now we get to make up the time we missed in the spring and summer. I’m looking forward to it. Something new. Just a different aspect, and as it gets hotter (in the spring) we’ll see who’s in shape.”</p><p>In March, the pandemic shut down spring sports at high schools and colleges nationwide. Spring football practice, a vital method of preparing coaches and players for the season ahead, was also canceled.</p><p>The UIndy football roster includes four players from Johnson County high schools, including senior safety Connor Steeb, a Center Grove grad who was the team’s leading tackler last season.</p><p>“I just didn’t want them to cancel the season outright,” Steeb said. “If we have it in the spring, there’s a better chance of us packing the stadiums for games. If we had it in the fall, there would be less people (because of precautions).”</p><p>Franklin College women’s soccer player Taylor Neely is another senior who’ll have aspects of her senior year reversed by the decision to move the season to spring.</p><p>Her attitude, however, remains similarly upbeat.</p><p>“I’m honestly just glad that we still get to play games,” said Neely, a Grizzlies midfielder who played her high school soccer at Greenwood. “It’s better than nothing; we still get to practice in the fall and have more time for conditioning.”</p><p>As someone who has worked her way back from three ACL injuries on her left knee, Neely wants an opportunity for a final go-round with teammates and coaches. Injuries have prevented her from making a significant statistical impact, but Neely remains excited about the months ahead.</p><p>“I still love the coaching staff, love my teammates and the game,” she said. “The team atmosphere is 100 percent like a family.”</p><p>Another local Franklin College athlete impacted is volleyball player Abby Sewell, a Franklin product who earned all-HCAC notice last season after finishing with 265 kills, 119 digs and 33 service aces.</p><p>At a time when she and her teammates would be preparing for matches, Sewell’s priorities are academics and conditioning.</p><p>“I wasn’t super surprised. I saw this coming and was relieved in a way,” said Sewell, who hasn’t set foot on a volleyball court since March. “Jumping right back into it in the fall might have been a little bit rough. We’re kind of limited in what we can do volleyball-wise, so the focus has been getting in the weight room and strength-training.</p><p>“Another thing is staying connected as a team and holding each other accountable with workouts. That’s something I feel our team has done well.”</p><p>Younger college athletes, such as UIndy men’s soccer player Owen Atkison, look to benefit by now having the fall to gain the type of strength required to possibly earn more playing time once spring arrives.</p><p>“My first reaction is that I have more time to grow and prepare for next season,” said Atkison, a sophomore who was the Daily Journal’s Player of the Year as a high school senior at Franklin. “The biggest benefit will be to the incoming freshmen as they adapt to the culture.</p><p>“Last year was definitely a learning curve for me to learn the style of play and become friends with my new teammates.”</p>