Illinois Wrestling Grips With COVID-19 Epidemic
March 24, 2020 | Wrestling
Head Coach Jim Heffernan
"It's been a crazy 12 days. The world is changing as we know it. I feel like for the first time probably in my coaching career we're playing catch-up in terms of what to do, how to do it, how to respond, how to answer questions with so many things up in the air. It's really been a change. We're learning every day as we go along. I feel especially bad for our guys just being kind of in limbo. We started online classes yesterday, and we've checked in with all of our guys to make sure they've had no problems going forward. Currently, we're working on different ideas for them to continue to train and stay in shape. I think by doing that, especially with the lockdown in our state, the physical part of it is very important for them. So getting up and moving, whether it's going out for a run, whether it's going in the basement and lifting weights or getting on a bike, I think that's all critical for them right now and will be part of the plan."
"I kind of felt like I did as a father when you have a young child who is sick and they're hurting, and you wish you could take that pain out of them and carry the burden for them. That's how I felt looking into those guys' eyes telling them that this (NCAA Championships) wasn't going to happen next week. I wish I could take that pain and carry the burden for you. I wish I could take that hurt away."
Travis Piotrowski
"I really still feel like it's been disbelief. It hasn't really sunk in fully... I'm still very shocked at the situation and at a loss for words on the season and how it ended. I don't think it has fully impacted me all the way."
