McKayla Campbell Graphic 8-19-20

Women's Wrestling CU Athletics

My CU Story: McKayla Campbell reflects on her quarantine experience

'My CU Story' is a new series on CampbellsvilleTigers.com of first-person feature articles written by Campbellsville University student-athletes. The student-athletes will be telling their own stories in their own words. Our first article in the series was written by women's wrestling All-American McKayla Campbell, whose mission of leading the Lady Tigers to their second NAIA Championship was halted when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

During quarantine I was handling my classes pretty well and our professors were working really well with us in our "new normal". Having all of the classes the last seven weeks move online was challenging because we didn't have that face-to-face interaction. But challenging moments are what student-athletes strive for and it taught me something new through this whole experience. 
 
Outside of my class work, I was happy to spend time with family. At home to stay entertained I helped restructure a pool deck and remodel a kitchen. My family was happy that we had time to spend together and we are thankful none of us had contracted the virus. 

After I was told that the national championship was canceled, I was very upset. It was more upsetting because we were already in North Dakota and weigh-ins were the next morning. What hurt the most was seeing our seniors not have their last chance to get on the podium. Those teammates worked so hard to achieve their goals and I had been there with them the entire time. It was heartbreaking to see their dreams shattered and not have another chance.

On the flip side, I am fortunate to say I have another year to look forward to and I promise to not take it for granted. When we were practicing as a team, our workouts every morning were very structured. I had to learn how to take that structure and develop my physical fitness on my own which included smaller workouts throughout the day – mainly body workouts. I also was able to implement a running program and I took a lot of walks. 
 
What I really feel that I missed out on during those seven weeks were those special moments with the seniors and their send off. I also feel I missed some important times in my college career because it is something that flies by so quickly. 

The 2020-21 season will be my senior year and that is something that I thought would never come but it has pulled me at the ankles into the water, and here I am, the home stretch of college. 

Overall, I think this has really made me realize what is important and to not take anything for granted. I really appreciate having such an amazing team and coaching staff because even though we weren't together, we were there for each other. I couldn't ask for any better support system to be behind than those that have come into my life because of Campbellsville University.



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