Rosemary Chesney, asst. sports editor 

Although the end of last semester brought about a temporary relaxation of mask and testing policies for Berry sports, the Omicron variant not only cut short Berry women’s swim team trip over the winter break, but also ensured stricter COVID-19 policies for all winter sports. 

Prior to the infiltration of the Omicron variant, only completely unvaccinated athletes had to test three times a week. Now, according to Berry Men’s Head Basketball coach Trevor Lydic, all athletes who do not have the COVID-19 booster shot have to test in order to continue playing. 

“I’m proud of how the team has handled the adversity with covid and growing pains as a team,” Lydic said. “We’re in a good place, but not satisfied with our work and always striving to get better.” 

Basketball players are also going to be masked and somewhat socially distanced during practice, according to Lydic. Masks for swimmers are now enforced anywhere outside of the water, according to Assistant Swim Coach Cameron Klimczak. They are also required for fans in the gym, and concession stands are closed. 

“Coaches now have to remember testing and navigating all of the other COVID-19 protocols,” Klimczak said. “We need to keep them all healthy and motivated so that we can take a team to the conference.” 

During winter break, the swim team was scheduled to take an annual trip to Miami, FL., to train at Florida International University (FIU) from Dec. 28 to Jan. 5. While the team was in Florida, the conference implemented new COVID- 19 policies, and the team was not able to swim for the scheduled FIU meet. The coaches organized a makeshift meet for the swimmers b e t w e e n themselves and a college team practicing next to them. The team then came back two days early. 

“The new COVID- 19 policies are definitely frustrating for the team who’s been going through it for so long,” Klimczak said. “The fact that [the policies] relaxed and are not back in full force has affected them in a lot of different ways. Most of all they are nervous for the season to get shut down again.” 

Berry’s men’s basketball team also planned two trips to Naples, FL., and then Nashville, Tenn., over the winter break. However, both trips occurred before the COVID-19 policies changed, with Berry winning three of their four games. Coach Lydic said that the hardest part of the new COVID-19 policies for the team is when a player has to quarantine. 

“I tell the team to go with the flow and not be surprised if a player has to go [into quarantine],” Lydic said. “Our team has a lot of depth so when one guy goes down, the next will come up and take his spot. Covid is no excuse and this team is good, so hopefully we can finish the job and win the conference.” 

The swim team has had many personal bests this season, Klimczak said, and their last swim meet is against Birmingham Southern on Jan. 23. The conference tournament starts for the swim team on Feb. 16. According to Berry’s Men’s Asst. Basketball Coach Josh Pattison, the basketball team’s overall record is 11-2, and 2-1 for in-conference games. The team has 11 regular conference games left in the season, with the last conference game set for Feb. 15. 

“It feels like COVID-19 policies change day to day,” Asst. Coach Pattison said. “It’s tough to do everything right and still have players get sick. The guys’s safety is the most important thing so we will follow every [protocol] as closely as we can.”