Winning During COVID-19—Gracia Perilli
Gracia Perilli is the associate director of athletics.
History has shown me that no matter what happens in the world, sports is the one thing you can consistently count on. When we sent the student-athletes home immediately after returning to campus from their spring break trips last spring, I never anticipated their season would be over. In the past, games may have been postponed, but seasons were never canceled, or so I had believed.
Sports have been a major part of my life. The one thing I could always count on, the thing that defined me, was now gone. Now what? Our entire staff was struggling with that exact question, but I couldn’t give them an answer.
The last eight months have forced me to look at my world through a different lens. Don’t get me wrong… every day, all-day has been spent trying to figure out how to safely return our athletes and coaches to their respective playing fields with the hopes of competing. This year, we all have been redefining what our roles are and how to rethink and celebrate the smaller victories without competing.
I found out that I was not going to die if I wasn’t on campus running around at a game every Saturday. People weren’t going to think less of me if I went home at a normal hour. I could be living in the moment while enjoying dinner with my family instead of worrying about pending weather and what that would mean for games the next day.
I also realized how blessed I truly am. I have a loving family that is healthy, cats who tolerate me, and I am surrounded by amazing people at DeSales University.
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone on campus for their commitment to the health and well-being of our entire community. The students have been extremely patient and cooperative in carrying out the game plan. And to the faculty and staff for their flexibility and creativity keeping everyone engaged and focused on getting through the semester successfully.
We may not have played a game on campus in months…but DeSales University is and always will be a winner!
Gracia Perilli is the associate director of athletics.