When I was given the opportunity to come back, I knew that was how I wanted to finish my story - something that I had a say in.” “I knew I didn’t want my career to end in a way that was so out of my control, and I didn’t want my story to be done yet. “Having such an abrupt end was like getting really into a book and realizing that half the pages are missing right when you reach the climax,” she said. Natalicchio, who believed she played her last game of the sport she spent 15 years of her life playing, was immediately interested upon hearing about the extension opportunity. Last spring, she started and played in only four regular season games when her season was cut short by the pandemic. This gave comfort to players, especially seniors, who believed that Covid-19 had stolen their final and last seasons.Īli Natalicchio, a fifth-year graduate student in the masters of public health program at the College, is a member of the women’s lacrosse team. The rule effectively granted student athletes an additional year and season of eligibility while enrolled in full-time classes. Student athletes consider the extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA (Photo Courtesy of Jamie O'Neill). This rule, announced by the NCAA, waived the use of a season of participation for all student athletes participating in spring sports. Traditionally, a student athlete has five years to play four years of their sport. While fields were left empty and jerseys went unworn, some comfort was given to student athletes when the NCAA announced the extended eligibility rule. Last spring, expectation turned to disbelief when the NBA was sent into a bubble, the NHL was cut short, the Masters did not tee off, the MLB was not in training and college basketball did not march their way into madness.Ĭollege sports of all three divisions were canceled via an NCAA announcement last March, in an effort to ensure the events did not contribute to the spread of the pandemic. When the spring season approaches each year, expectations follow - expectations that buds will bloom, temperatures will rise and sports will be played.
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