The CCCAA made the decision to push back the fall athletics season to the spring and split the seasons into increments. Fall sports will play shortened seasons from the beginning of February to April, while spring sports will play from April to the end of June.
KSBY Sports Director, Neil Hebert, spoke with Cuesta Director of Athletics, Bob Mariucci, Friday afternoon, and Mariucci’s spirits were high.
Mariucci gave us this statement:
“We understand the decision of the CCCAA Board of moving fall sports to the spring semester. The health and safety of our students, coaches and staff is paramount and moving our sports to the spring will ensure this will take place and give us the best opportunity to compete, provided it is safe to do so.”
Dr. Jill Stearns, Cuesta College Superintendent/President, gave us this statement:
“We appreciate the difficulty of the CCCAA decision and appreciate having the information a week earlier than anticipated. There are challenges associated with the shift of all athletic competition to spring and Cuesta College is mapping out a plan to address them. We look forward to the safe reinstatement of intercollegiate competition.”
Cuesta water polo and swimming and diving head coach, John Marsh, and water polo player, Jacob Sill, reacted to the change in their season.
“I think the kids have been hit with a lot over the last two weeks, but for the safety of the kids, the staff, the faculty, and just the general way that it’s going in the state, I think it was the right way to go,” said Marsh. “For water polo, it’s a unique opportunity. We’ve never had a fall to train and better prepare ourselves like baseball and softball and spring sports. This will be kind of a unique challenge where we can actually practice, hopefully, all semester.”
“You’re used to this game where you’re punching under the water, to not even touching the guy,” said Sill. “It’s nice to work on your skills when you’re not playing contact; the passing, the shooting, and how you want your wrist. At first, it’s disappointing because we waited since last season to start playing again. It will be the first time we’ve gone this long without playing in a water polo game for most of us.”
