CHICAGO – Something DePaul instills within its student-athletes has helped them remain resolute in the face of a global healthcare crisis that resulted in fall sports being closed down.

“This has definitely been the most interesting and stressful time in my lifetime,” said men’s soccer goalkeeper Drew Nuelle. “Being a part of a team at DePaul has been great because it has allowed me to find unity in a group of people even though this country seems to be so divided on almost every issue that arises.”

The senior who is studying to become a doctor went through a frightening experience in July while working at an internship with Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine.

“My whole family (mother, father and both sisters) actually got COVID-19 in early July while I was in Chicago,” he said. “It was a scary time for me because I was interning Downtown while they all had the sickness back in St. Louis.

“I am very fortunate that everyone recovered 100 percent, but during the 10-14 days when the symptoms were prevalent in my parents, I was extremely worried that they could take a turn for the worse. I was very aware of the situation and their symptoms during the whole cycle of the illness and am just very grateful that everyone is okay and back to their normal lives.”

It certainly made for some extremely anxious moments.

“I had been in Chicago for two weeks when one of my sisters who was visiting my parents in St. Louis returned to Houston and tested positive,” Nuelle said. “My parents got a test and were positive, and the same for my other sister who lives in St. Louis. This all happened within a span of three days.

“I wasn’t totally worried about my sisters because they have strong immune systems. But my parents are both over 50 and close to that high-risk category. I didn’t want to panic, but I was really worried about them. I called home a lot and talked to them about doing everything they can to lessen the effects.

“I’ve done research about coronavirus and learned about COVID-19 testing in my Cellular Biology class. In 99 percent of the cases, people start feeling better and eventually go back to their normal lives. I was so glad no one in my family had to go to the hospital or go on a ventilator.

  

“When my parents started getting their sense of taste back and my mom could walk upstairs without getting fatigued, it was a huge relief for me. One of the hardest things for me was I could not get to see them if things had taken a turn for the worse.”

Cross Country/Track and Field runner junior Ryan Taylor can empathize with Nuelle after his brush with the unrelenting coronavirus.

“My uncle had COVID and it affected him physically to the point where he almost passed away,” Taylor said. “He was in the hospital in intensive care for over a month and was put on oxygen after he was able to be discharged.”

Nuelle and Taylor were disappointed when their fall seasons were shut down in August and postponed until the spring. But they could certainly see why.

“It was fairly obvious with the earlier decisions of other conferences to postpone play until the spring,” Nuelle said. “As much as I wanted the season to happen, I completely understood why the decision was made, and I was simply grateful that we would still be allowed to train even in the absence of competition.”

Seniors Isabelle Banez of volleyball and Morgan Turner of women’s soccer had a similar reaction.

“I was at home with my parents and sister and saw a tweet on Twitter about the BIG EAST postponing all fall sports,” Banez said. “I was really sad that I wouldn’t be able to have a normal senior season, but I was expecting this to happen due to the increasing number of cases in July. I am glad that we’re planning to play this spring and have time to safely train as a team before competition starts.”

Turner added: “I was in my apartment in Chicago with my roommates Jessica Lazo and Mary Tierney when we heard that our season was postponed. Even though we weren’t surprised, it was definitely disappointing.

“We were all ready for an exciting season and had high hopes for a big year. It’s harder on seniors like myself. Now, we have to refocus and start getting ready for the spring.”

Nuelle will follow a different path. He is planning on applying to medical school next summer to start the long process (up to 10 years) of becoming a doctor.

“I do not plan on using the extra season of eligibility that the NCAA has granted simply because I am already a redshirt senior and feel as though it’s time to start making progress on my career to become a physician rather than pursue another championship or a professional soccer career,” he said. “I feel as though I have gotten the most out of my time in college athletics, and I am looking forward in preparing for life’s next phase after sports.”

While Turner is all-in to play in the spring and cap off a stellar career, Banez is—like one of her patented sets—up in the air.

“I’m not set on what I’m going to do as of right now,” Banez said. “Using my extra year of eligibility would be a great opportunity to hopefully play a more normal season. I plan on getting my doctorate in physical therapy after I graduate so I could go straight to PT school. I am keeping my options open and just trusting in God’s plan for me.”

Taylor said there is a “small chance” he will use his extra year with a goal of working as a graduate assistant coach for the team.

Above all else, this Blue Demon foursome was grateful to be at a place like DePaul during the upheaval that has turned our world upside-down.

Turner felt that sense of community after all the phone calls from her coaches and teammates while sheltering in place. She felt a unity that encompassed other teams via her friendships and get-togethers over the summer with fellow Minnesota natives Jolene Daninger and Hannah Purcell of women’s basketball. They live within a 35-minute drive of each other.

All four fall sports athletes talked about the energy and enthusiasm being generated at practices even without the incentive of competitive games and meets. The simple joy and excitement of being back together after six long months away and having fun again kicking a soccer ball, digging a volleyball or increasing your long-distance fitness—that is more than enough for now.

It could be that coronavirus has taught us to appreciate all the little things we once took for granted before the bane of our existence invaded our shores.

“There are many difficult things the world and the country are facing during these times,” Taylor said. “A global pandemic that has not stopped its rage and the growing systemic racism that is depressing our country have been some of the worst hardships the USA has seen in a long time.

“Being at DePaul really helps me appreciate my acceptance in a large community where we are supported and heard during these times.

“In terms of COVID, I never felt the slightest inkling that if I were to opt-out of training or competing in the future that I would receive any backlash or silence from my coaches. I know that in any situation, if I did not feel safe and wanted to do what I thought was best for me, my coaches and teammates would always have my back.

“With the tremendous growth of the Black Lives Matter movement, we have discussed and educated ourselves as a collective team with presentations from teammates Valarie Whitted and Esther Aldana. Another teammate Margaret Hastings started a campaign for DePaul Athletics to purchase T-shirts expressing our alliance with the Black Lives Matter movement in which we donated money to Chicago Black Lives Matter.”

For Banez, becoming educated goes so far beyond textbooks, lectures and final-exam papers.

“DePaul has provided me the knowledge needed to understand systemic racism and fight against the racial and social injustices that BIPOC (Black, Indigenous People of Color) face daily,” she said. “Two professors who have been impactful in my education are Jerica Arents and Mark Wodziak. I think that college students are ready now more than ever to participate in the polls this November. Change can’t happen without votes.”

There haven’t been any metrics or polls to verify Banez’s sentiment, but anecdotally by looking at the faces of social justice protesters nationwide—you can’t help but notice the preponderance of young folks.

There is seemingly a fervor and a passion among 18-to-22-year-olds that hasn’t been seen or felt in this country since the legendary peace protests, antiwar rallies and Civil Rights marches of the 1960s. Is it possible more young people than ever before will fill out ballots on Nov. 3?

“More college students will definitely vote because of the change that they can bring about with their vote,” Nuelle said. “Social media and the news media have made all the information much more accessible to people of my generation.

“That has helped bring many issues involving race and social injustice to the surface and sparked conversation for change in this country when even five years ago that may not have been the case.”