With most sports in full swing, Westmoreland colleges experience different March Madness

As the NCAA Tournament tipped off Friday afternoon, Aaron Smetanka was preparing for kickoff.

Yes, kickoff. In March.

The Saint Vincent football coach was finalizing gameday plans for the Bearcats’ season opener at Grove City. Elsewhere on campus, the women’s basketball team was practicing for the Presidents’ Athletic Conference championship game it was set to host Saturday night in Latrobe.

And the Bearcats’ baseball, softball and lacrosse teams were getting ready for weekend games, while swimming, cross country, volleyball and tennis teams aimed to be ready for upcoming events.

Now this is what you call March Madness. Just about every sport at a number of local colleges is in full swing, while others are getting set to start. The college floodgates have opened after the giant pause that was 2020.

A year unlike any other has tossed a multitude of sports into a blender and cranked it up to full speed.

“The players have been working hard since our last game on Nov. 16, 2019,” Smetanka said. “This year has really shown us all how to be patient and keep our faith in God. No matter what bad or good events have occurred this year, we know that God writes our plan. We are truly are blessed and thankful to have the opportunity to play the great game of football this spring.”

Seton Hill also was buzzing with baseball and softball workouts, and its lacrosse teams are well underway.

Baseball and softball are going strong at Pitt-Greensburg, with soccer and women’s volleyball on their tail.

Nationally, there have been Saturdays when every college sport was going on at once.

“It’s just great to see teams competing again,” said Seton Hill sophomore baseball player Jack Oberdorf, a Greensburg Salem graduate. “We are all fortunate enough to be playing the sport we love again. I know for sure that myself, Seton Hill baseball and all other athletes on campus will not take a single moment for granted.”

Seton Hill started the year 6-0, while softball took a 7-3 mark into the weekend.

Last year at this time, fields and gyms were dormant and quiet. Now, even though fans are not permitted at many venues, places are alive with sounds of the season.

The NCAA wrestling championships were this weekend. Can you recall a Saturday when wrestling, football, basketball, baseball, softball and a number of other sports were happening simultaneously?

“I would say this year has definitely been a balancing act,” said RJ Leisie, Associate Director for Athletic Communications at Saint Vincent.

Leisie never imagined his first year on the job would be this busy.

“Once the decision was made in the fall about traditional fall sports playing in the spring and the decision to carry on a shortened winter season, all of us knew it was going to be challenging,” he said. “It seemed like everything just hit and started at once but as the year has gone on, we have found our rhythm and just focus on things one day at a time. It may be a lot but it is definitely better compared to last year at this time.”

Pitt-Greensburg’s basketball teams are playing abbreviated, exhibition schedules. In fact, their Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference is not recognizing this as an official season. Boxscores are not posted.

Women’s first-year coach Kelsey Oddis won’t lead her team in an official game until next winter.

“It was really crazy all year. Now we are starting to get used to the new routine,” Pitt-Greensburg men’s basketball coach Brody Jackson said. “Of course, now that we are finally used to it our season ends this weekend.”

“I wanted to play for a championship but that was out of my control. I told my (athletic director) that even if we can’t play for a championship it is still important to play games for the development of our program.”

Both UPG teams have an influx of new players, so any competition is worth something.

“I love our team, and if it were a normal year, I would really like where we would be at towards the conference tournament,” Jackson said. “Our defense stinks right now. But you know what? It is supposed to when you have a team with little experience.

“This will be great for development. Whatever we achieve next season will be a direct result of this year.”

Other local athletes have been fortunate to play full seasons, on time, and at the normal time of year.

Franklin Regional grad Nate Leopold is a defensive back at John Carroll, two games into his junior “season.”

“It is absolutely crazy,” he said. “Normally at this time, I’m just watching prospects for the draft, watching March Madness and playing (intramural) hoops. Now it’s so different being in season. Three years ago, I was watching March Madness on the way to a state playoff basketball game and (Friday) I was doing that on the way to Mount Union. It’s so chaotic, but it’s so much fun.”

Marian (Ind.) freshman point guard Jayla Wehner, a Norwin graduate, and her teammates played a 33-game season. It ended Friday night in the NAIA Tournament Round of 16.

“It is definitely different than usual, but it’s great especially being a sports fan to be able to watch all the sports at once,” Wehner said. “I always looked forward to watching my brother play football and my dad coach it, but also watching basketball and all the excitement of March Madness. But now we get to watch them all together. And on top of all of that, who would’ve thought that through this pandemic, that college athletes would get to play their season?

“It’s great to get to play the game you love.”