VESTAL, N.Y. – For the first time in six months, Binghamton's student-athletes are back on the Bearcats Sports Complex turf.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic led to the shutdown of intercollegiate athletics back on March 12, Binghamton has been unable to have any kind of structured practices or training sessions on their facilities. With the university off to a good start this year in terms of adapting to the new normal, however, the Bearcat athletes began baseline screening tests this week.

Baseline screening is one of the first components of the student-athletes return to campus each fall. In any other year, it wouldn't be all that big of an event. But for the student-athletes across all sports, this week's screening was a step in the right direction.

"Stepping back onto that field for the first time since March felt amazing," women's soccer player Gabby Piontkowksi said. "Yeah, we didn't get to touch a soccer ball or play, but it was just exciting to see everybody. We are all so pumped for practices to officially start and get back into the swing of things."

"Getting all the guys and coaches back together -- in person -- after so many months apart was incredible," said Alex Barrata of the baseball team. "This was a great first step for the program and we can only build on it. I am so excited to start practicing and competing again because I think we have a chance of being a very tough team to beat and the rest of the guys feel the same way."

Up next for the Bearcat student-athletes will be a return to practice in smaller groups, similar to how professional teams started out over the summer. While their entire teams won't be together at the same time, the chance to be playing the sports to love figures to be much appreciate by the athletes.

"We are looking forward to getting back in the water and start training again," swimmer Abby McHugh said. "Our team has been working hard individually in the spring, summer and now fall to stay in shape and prepare for the season, whatever it may bring. Now as we come together again, we're looking forward to pushing ourselves to get better in the pool and the weight room."

"We are excited to start practice again," said Matt Baker of the track & field team. "Not only to hone our own skills for another hopefully stellar year but to finally feel the positivity that practices and being together provides once again. Although it will not be the same, we plan to make the best of it."

The uncertainty of the weeks and months ahead hasn't completely gone away, but for the Binghamton student-athletes, there is no doubt they persevered over the past six months.

"I know we all individually in this pandemic did as much as we could with the resources we had available," volleyball player Francela Ulate said. "We did what we could to keep in shape and that's what matters -- the time and tenacity we individually put in to bring it all together and be strong."