San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

The Daily Aztec

San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

The Daily Aztec




San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

The Daily Aztec

Run it back: Spring sports have returned

After+waiting+nearly+a+year+to+return+to+the+field%2Fcourt+of+play%2C+more+programs+will+compete+during+the+2021+spring+semester+than+ever+before.
Emily Burgess
After waiting nearly a year to return to the field/court of play, more programs will compete during the 2021 spring semester than ever before.

Through season postponements/cancellations in 2020, pauses due to campus coronavirus complications and uncertainty if athletics would be able to resume in 2021, San Diego State spring sports are ready to run it back.

It’s been nearly 11 months since the start of the pandemic. Only the football team has been able to compete and finish a season — even though it was shortened to eight games.

Although not considered spring sports by the book, men’s basketball and swimming and diving were robbed of opportunities to compete in postseason play last March.

With a 30-2 record and regular-season Mountain West Conference title, men’s basketball was unable to play in the NCAA Tournament. It was all too familiar for swimming and diving, who claimed the MWC title in February but was stripped of competing in the NCAA Championships the following month.

Both teams are back in action and began their seasons last November and December, respectively. Women’s basketball was the only other sport to resume play in 2020. Now, all three teams continue to play into the spring semester.

So will at least seven other programs, including teams that usually play during the fall.

Men’s golf recently began its first competition of the season in the Southwestern Invitational, held Jan. 25 to Jan. 27.

Cross country will be the next sport back in action and is set to participate in the UNLV XC Invitational on Feb. 1.

Volleyball is scheduled to face the Runnin’ Rebels in the team’s first game of the season in Las Vegas on Feb. 4.

On Feb. 8, SDSU women’s golf starts and will look to retain the Lamkin Invitational trophy for a second straight season.

The lights above SDSU Softball Stadium and Tony Gwynn Stadium will also shine again, as softball begins Feb. 12 and baseball starts Feb. 19. Both teams lead off their seasons against San Diego.

For now, women’s soccer is the only program to begin play in March. The sole SDSU program in the Pac-12 Conference, men’s soccer, is the latest program to release its season schedule. The squad begins play Feb. 11 at home against Dixie State.

Among the programs that have yet to officially release a schedule include men’s tennis, lacrosse, women’s tennis, water polo and track and field.

As we’ve seen earlier this month, game postponements and cancellations are still a possibility in 2021. But remember when we were without athletics last spring and early summer?

These next few months are going to be sports-heavy, so buckle up.

About the Contributors
Kyle Betz, Sports Editor
Kyle Betz is a fourth-year journalism student at SDSU and 2020-21 marks his fourth year reporting for The Daily Aztec. The Lake Forest, Calif. native has covered numerous sports as a writer, editor and media contributor. An avid fan of the Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Lakers, Manchester United and Anaheim Ducks, Kyle enjoys watching and attending sporting events, listening to music, going to the beach and spending time with friends and family in his free time.
Emily Burgess, Graphics Editor
Emily is a junior at San Diego State. She is pursuing a degree in graphic design with a double minor in marketing and interdisciplinary studies.
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San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913
Run it back: Spring sports have returned