VILLANOVA, Pa.—Amidst a great deal of uncertainty during unprecedented times, the current members of the Villanova men's and women's track & field teams had a chance to hear from some of the people who can best relate to them and their experiences as collegiate student-athletes: Wildcats alums who have come before them and maintain strong connections to the program.  Several prominent Villanova track & field alumni reached out with video messages and encouragement that were shared with the team this week.
 
"I hope you're safe and that you're healthy and able to keep training and keep your chins up during this time," Vicki (Huber) Rudawsky '89 said.  "This has obviously never happened before and you guys are really going through a tough time, but you've got great coaches, great teammates and a great support system so you're not alone in this."
 
"I know this is a stressful time for everyone and you're probably in limbo over where to focus your physical energy right now," Jen Rhines '96 said.  "This is the perfect time to reset and work on the things that are your weaknesses.  I would look at it like a free pass to come back much stronger next year."
 
The messages shared by Rudawsky, Rhines and others noted the disappointment of having the 2019-20 academic years and athletic competitions come to an abrupt ending, but also reflected on the ways that they are keeping a positive outlook for themselves and finding opportunities that the current situation has made possible. 
 
"Right now you're at home with your families which is important at a time like this," Patrick Tiernan '16 said.  "Make the most of that opportunity to spend time with your parents and your siblings, all of your loved ones.  Just embrace it.  It's a rare opportunity to be able to spend this amount of time with those people and I think that's how we should be viewing this."
 
"I feel your pain," Nnenna Lynch '93 said.  "If you're frustrated, angry, whatever your feelings are, I hear you.  This is an unprecedented time and I don't think there is any prescription to getting through this.  I can tell you that when I've been upset what has helped me get through it is thinking about the myriad of things I'm grateful for, which is my health, my family, the healthy of family and my broader family which includes my Villanova teammates and classmates.  There are a lot of things to be grateful for and in particular recently I have been thinking about my good old friend – running.  I think of running as a loyal, dependable friend.  Sure, sometimes she's aggravating but mostly she has been a great part of my life.  Those moments you're feeling stressed, get out there and go for a run."
 
A common theme over the past few weeks, and not just in the sports world, has been for people to look back on their previous experiences and seek out the trials and tribulations that have prepared them to be able to handle the current circumstances.  From an athletics standpoint, that can mean reflecting on overcoming an injury or other hardships. 
 
"My final spring at Villanova in 2016 I had an injury and because of that I wasn't cleared by the doctors," Angel Piccirillo '16 said.  "I wasn't able to practice of compete with the team and I felt pretty alone, pretty isolated.  It was the last Olympic cycle and I was watching the Olympic Trials from my couch when I thought that I had the ability to be there to compete.  I definitely had to lean on my coaches and teammates, my family and friends to find support to deal with the situation that I was in.  I'm glad that a lot of you have been able to make it home since Villanova closed campus.  Don't be afraid to lean on your family and friends." 
 
"This is a great opportunity to look at our weaknesses and see how we can get better," Paul Moser '04 said.  "For those of [you] who have more eligibility, look at the little things.  Is it core, is it watching tape, is it getting your runs in if you are able to?  Is it knocking out school work so you have less stress to worry about next season?  For those of [you] who have run out of eligibility, track & field never leaves you.  You have gained so much knowledge and you have this amazing skill set that is transferrable to the next level.  How do you take that passion?  Treat every day like it is a practice and treat every big moment like it's a race day."
 
Each of the messages from the alumni touched on the uplifting thought that the goals the current student-athletes are working towards are still within their grasp, regardless of needing to pause and take a step back from the day-to-day grind of what would currently be the middle of the outdoor track & field season.
 
"Even though you might have to train alone right now it's just going to be so much better when you get to come back together again as a team, with your teammates and your friends and then you get to work towards the next goals you have," Rudawsky said.
 
"Just know you can still do the things that you're dreaming of doing," Piccirillo said.  "When I was coming back from my injury I kept my head down, kept working hard and came back to have the best fall I have ever had and was an All-American in cross country.  Prior to that, I don't know if I thought that was possible.  The current situation is just a temporary down for a long-term successful story for all of you."
 
In any difficult situation, there is strength in numbers.  The worldwide network of Villanova track & field alumni is a robust and well-connected one, fitting of a program that has enjoyed so much success at the highest levels of sport. 
 
"Stay safe, stay positive and reach out to your Villanova community," Tiernan said.  "Those of us who have graduated are always here for you.  That's the great thing about our community is that we always stay in touch and lend a helping hand."
 
"All of the experiences you have [as a student-athlete] will shape you for a positive future," Piccirillo said.  "Villanova will always be there for you.  Once this passes, the campus, the coaches, all of those people you've grown to love will be there for you.  Don't be afraid to call, text or e-mail your support systems.  Stay safe, wash your hands, and know that this will pass."
 
Above all else, the opportunity for the Wildcats current student-athletes was a chance to know that they are not alone in facing current challenges and that the experiences they are having now will create a stronger community both at Villanova and in their daily lives.   
 
"I'm a glass half full kind of guy and I think this is an excellent opportunity for us all as a community to sit down and reprioritize the things that are important to us," Moser said.  "I'm sending you tons of positive vibes, I hope you're doing well and I hope everyone is making the right decisions and being safe.  This is also a time where we can be of service to one another.  Send our a text, make that extra phone call and let a mom or a dad know that you love them."
 
"Hang in there.  Stay strong, stay tough, stay positive and you'll come out on the other end better than ever," Rudawsky said.