Changes to Football Practice Amid the Pandemic

Monmouth University - The Monmouth Hawks Football team is ready to anticipate a season this upcoming spring in replacement of the cancelled fall season due to COVID. Players and administration have taken measures to balance social distancing and develop a successful team simultaneously.

Prior to COVID, players and staff had one designated locker room and players could use the training room at any time prior to practice. Due to social distancing concerns, the structure altogether has been altered.

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Social Justice Leader: Prisca Blamon

This week Monmouth University women’s track and field student-athlete, Prisca Blamon was granted a position as part of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) SAAC Social Justice Committee. The committee is designed to eliminate racial inequality, and also promote gender equity. The goal to make a compendious setting for the schools playing in the conference.

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Women's Ball Plays in First Athletic Event Since March

The long anticipated 2020-2021 season for the Monmouth University women’s basketball team began at the Rutgers Athletic Center in Piscataway, New Jersey on Friday, Nov. 27. It was a tough matchup that the Hawks eventually lost by a final score of 82-38.

This was a game originally scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 25 that had to be delayed in precaution with the welfare of student-athletes, coaches, and event staff after Monmouth’s most recent testing results on the men’s side.

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COVID-19 Derails Start of Men’s Basketball

On Nov. 25, the Monmouth University men’s basketball team put their season on halt after the result of a positive COVID-19 test from one of the program’s Tier One members.

The team entered a 14-day quarantine following the positive test. Tier One members include student-athletes, coaches, and support staff, all of which will quarantine.

After the cancellation of fall sports, the Monmouth community has been eager and excited to see Monmouth winter sports start up. Basketball is a big sport on campus, and while fans may not be allowed in the stands, all were restlessly anticipating the start of the season from their homes or dorm rooms.

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MAAC Announces Time Out for Black Lives Program

The Metro Athletic Conference (MAAC) announced their new program, “Time Out for Black Lives,” which aims to inspire and educate the youth as well as other athletes, families and fans. Senior forward Melik Martin represents Monmouth in this newly launched program.

“Time Out for Black Lives” has a website where coaches and athletes from MAAC basketball programs contribute their time to read children’s books that focus on Black culture, history, music and myths. It comes as part of the MAAC’s United for Justice campaign that they announced over the Summer.

The United for Justice Campaign was instated in response to the racial injustice that is ongoing in society. The MAAC will stand with the “Black Lives Matter” movement and continue to find ways to help address the national issue of systematic racism.

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Women’s Basketball Announces New Class

On Nov. 12, 2020, the Monmouth University women’s basketball team announced their latest signings of guard, Emily Jimenez and guard, Antonia Panayides who will join the team in their 2021-22 season.

Hailing from the sunshine state, Emily Jimenez is from Boca Raton, Florida and goes to Cardinal Gibbons. During her junior year, she averaged 11.6 points per game and 4.6 rebounds. In addition to that, she racked up 3.5 assists per game.

Also as an individual player, the Boca Raton native earned Sun Sentinel Second Team All-County and Miami Herald Second Team All-County honors.

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Baseball Signs Eight Players to NLI’s

Monmouth Baseball announced they have signed eight ballplayers to National Letters of Intent this past Friday, Nov. 13. Monmouth added Jay Bant, Nick Burg, Nick Czarnecki, JD Greeley, Reed Interdonato, Jonathan Peterson, Andew Schmid and Aidan Watson through NLIs.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome this group of fine young men to our program,” said head coach Dean Ehehalt. “They are all outstanding students and of high character. This class will make an immediate impact on the field as well.”

Jay Bant is an infielder from Wall, NJ. He currently plays for Wall High School under the realm of coach James Rochford. In his sophomore season in 2019, Bant hit .341 with two long balls and 27 RBIs. The left-handed hitter also had a slugging percentage of .477.

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Monmouth Intends to Play Winter Sports with Caution

The effects of COVID-19 have left college athletics in a precarious position. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the college sports world have adapted, rearranging schedules, and reconfiguring protocol. In this complicated landscape, where such a complex matter challenges them, schools like Monmouth University are doubling down on safety procedures.

Maneuvering around these health issues is pressing with the number one priority being students and faculty safety. A pandemic that has changed the landscape of college sports, leaving a bit of a circus. The restart since the stoppage has been plagued by cases of COVID-19 and it has not relented since. Even with the mask and sideline rules, rounds of testing, and other arrangements implemented, the risks still apply.

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All-Business All-American: AJ Farris

A Division One football player who craves the Wall Street rush and world travel. That is Monmouth Football’s Center and fifth year student, AJ Farris.

AJ Farris grew up in Delaware where he first started playing football in third grade. “I always wanted to be like my dad,” said Farris. “My dad’s always loved football, always been involved in it. I was always watching it with him. He ended up being my coach so my dad is the one who got me into football when I was in third grade.”

In high school, Farris attended Eastern Christian Academy where he had a unique high school experience. “We technically went to school online kind of like how things are now with COVID and we traveled across the country to play the top high schools in the country.”

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Spring Football Schedule Announced

On Monday, Nov. 9 Monmouth football officially announced their 2021 Spring football schedule featuring four conference games beginning in March. After the Big South cancelled their Fall schedule due to COVID-19, the Hawks will finally get their chance to defend their conference title from last season.

“We are looking forward to competing again in the Big South,” said head coach Kevin Callahan. “It’s been a long time since we played, and the team is excited about the opportunity to get back on the field.”

Ultimately, just five teams from the Big South chose to participate in Spring football which includes Charleston Southern, Gardner-Webb, Kennesaw State, Monmouth, and Robert Morris. Campbell, Hampton, and North Alabama have all chosen not to participate in the Spring season.

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