WPSU Penn State
Nelson says returning to competition was important for student-athletes to feel part of the University community again.
“I think that in itself is a massive reason why we want to get them back on the field,” he said. “It provides such a great opportunity for growth as an athlete, but just as a person in the college community.”
Messina said that returning to competition has important benefits from a health and welfare standpoint.
“Student-athletes competing at this level here have largely committed much of their teenage years and since they were very young training to become an elite athlete,” she said. “The opportunity to allow our student-athletes to get back to doing what they've devoted so much of their life to doing, I think is really important, not just from a physical health and welfare standpoint, but from a mental health one as well.”