NE-10 sports return has SCSU athletic community excited

Members of the athletic community at Southern Connecticut State and all Northeast-10 Conference schools are walking around campus with a few more smiles, a spring in their step and an upbeat and excited enthusiasm.

After a year-long hiatus of sports competition due to the impact of COVID-19, competition returns to Southern Connecticut State and the Northeast-10 Conference with the spring season.

“We’re all very excited,” Southern Connecticut State interim athetic director Matt Letkowski said. “It’s been a year since the school was shut down and we’re excited to see our teams, our softball, baseball, women’s lacrosse and track teams, go out there and play. It’s been a long time.

“We’ve been planning for this since last summer and it’s a culmination of a lot of work. As a conference we had to make sure all the protocols were in place. Things were progressing to a point where we could do this.”

Spectators will not be allowed at competitions at the beginning of the season. For now, team personnel and support staff will be the only individuals permitted to attend. Those protocols could evolve.

Fans can watch games online where they will be livestreamed.

“For our coaches, they want to get out there and compete,” Letkowski said. “Competing also makes it exciting for the recruiting process because potential recruits can see our games on livestream. Now, getting back out there and with some great weather, our athletes are excited and enjoying every moment.”

The Southern softball team opens its season on Sunday, hosting a doubleheader with Felician starting at noon at Pelz Field.

“Our girls are excited, our coaches are excited and I’m excited ,” said softball coach Jill Rispoli, currently on maternity leave with her daugter Gabriella. She plans to return and coach the Owls on April 5. Assistant coach Christine Akcer is the interim coach until Rispoli returns. “I’m not surprised we’re finally back because our administration has made it a priority for sports to come back and make it happen.

“We’ve been planning for this since last August and September. There is a lot to look forward to because 2020 was a tough year for all of us. The sliver lining is that our seniors now have an opportunity to play.”

Rispoli looks at spring sports as a learning experience.

“I think our spring sports will be a test run for all sports in other seasons to see how to make this happen,” Rispoli said. “It’s a springboard in the right direction to make sports happen every season. I’m looking forward to get back on the field and I’ll have my daughter with me on the sideline.”

Letkowski expects sports to return in the fall and winter.

“We’re very happy to be at this point, but our plan is to keep it going for fall and winter sports,” Letkowski said.