Mustangs are still training to win

Mustangs are still training to win

By: Paul Muyskens

"We are doing everything we can to assist in the process of making it happen," said Delta College head men's track and field coach Les Anthony earlier this week about the hopes that they can get back to practicing in person later this month.

"Everything has been electronic," said Anthony as they have relied heavily on technology over the past six months. "We have had the athletes videotape their practices. My athletes are pretty much doing the same thing that we would be doing together in person but we are just not in person."

While someone like a sprinter would train and practice differently compared to a thrower or a jumper the one thing that is consistent for all athletes across all sports is having to practice remotely on their own.

"The biggest difficulty during this school year to practice has been the lack of facilities and resources that would normally come with being an athlete at Delta College," said Anthony. "If my athletes need to lift weights they might not be able to just find an open gym to be able to do that. It's being creative at times and having to modify things and find ways. Every event group has a challenge. For our throwers, it could be finding 150 feet to throw a disc without having to worry about hitting anything or anyone. We are doing our best but it is not the same."

"We are doing the best we can to keep our athletes motivated and committed but it's hard because for some the motivation for school is sports. Some of them are built for this, some of them are not."

Some of those that are built for this include an impressive sophomore class that has not only excelled in athletics but the classroom as well with high-grade point averages.

"We have a ton of sophomores that are being recruited right now," said Anthony. "Before we had to shut down last season they did well and we have enough tape to show schools that they have talent. I think most of our sophomores are going to have an opportunity to get scholarships just because of their potential and high academic level. Some are being recruited by Division I, Division II, and NAIA schools." With things still up in the air, none of them have signed but some high-profile schools are looking to have Delta College athletes come their way next year including one Pac-12 school.