Beginning freshman year of college as a student athlete presents challenges in itself; juggling a new workload, new schedules, and new friends, freshmen year can be a lot of trial and error.
 
In addition to these typical trials, freshmen on sports teams this year were faced with additional challenges to face, given the global pandemic that has changed our world this past year.
 
Yet, despite these challenges faced by the Berry men's basketball team, the team has finally made it to the start of their 2021 season.
 
After having the start of their season pushed back, and dealing with the challenges and uncertainties of COVID-19, the men's team has finally been rewarded with the start of their 2021 season.
 
From the perspective of freshman guard Jordan Krueger, "not getting the full season experience" from the beginning has been strange for their whole team, but having "more leniency as a freshman" to "adjust to the practice schedule" has been nice.
 
According to freshman forward Chase Ellis, the extra time practicing with the team, due to COVID restrictions to starting game play, has allowed him to "adjust to Coach Cole's style of play."
 
Both Krueger and Ellis mentioned the tough journey to finally being able to begin their season. Following the delay of their season from October 2020, to now January 2021, the team has learned to adjust to unforeseen obstacles that come their way.
 
"The past few months of training have been difficult," said freshman forward Bryce Clark. "However, that difficulty has made the start of this season more fulfilling."
 
The freshmen players express how rewarding it is to finally get to play with their new teammates after all the hard work they put in this fall and all the obstacles they faced and continue onward wit this season.
 
"My love for the game has only grown here at Berry," said Clark. "My teammates and coaches bring out the best in me as an athlete and a student."
 
Similarly, Krueger describes his team as being "super close" and like a "brotherhood."
 
Recently returning from their opening weekend of play, where the Vikings went 2-0 at Millsaps, the men's team returned back home to start preparing for their home opener this weekend vs. Hendrix College.  To keep up with the latest Berry College men's basketball news, follow the team on Twitter @BerryVikings or @BerryMBB_.  
 
Kennedy Kremer is a freshman from Red Bluff, California and is majoring in marketing. She is also a member of the volleyball team at Berry.