If someone tests positive for COVID-19, only the people in direct contact with them have to quarantine, not the rest of the team.

But when five wrestlers were quarantined for the first big tournament of the year, it gave the team a start on the wrong foot. Because the wrestlers have to compete in 10 matches to be able to wrestle in sectionals, the virus could make their season extremely complicated. 

“It is what it is,” head coach Albert Skinner said. “We are not the only team dealing with this. It could potentially hurt their seed at sectionals, but you still have to wrestle the matches.”

Missing only one tournament most likely won’t affect their eligibility for sectionals. However, if they miss multiple tournaments, they would be in danger of missing out on the postseason competitions. 

“Ten matches are required for sectional seed,” Skinner said. “Most of our guys shouldn’t have a problem getting those matches in.”

The team had a couple starters who were quarantined, which hurt their chance of winning their first tournament.

Senior Luke Goodwin, freshman Andrew Goodwin and junior Nathan Smith are some of the starters that the Cards missed in the first tournament. But, the team did have other wrestlers replace them. 

“To miss a chance to go compete is an opportunity I missed to improve myself,” sophomore Evan Hammond said. “Practice is one thing, but competing on the mat is where you can really gauge your improvement from work you put into the off-season or practice.”

The team will have to take it day by day to see how the rest of the season unfolds.The players who were quarantined are allowed to wrestle again, and this will give the Cards a good chance to come back strong with their starters back in the matches.

“We will see what the future holds,” Skinner said. “Right now we are just taking it one day at a time.”