On Thursday, May 12, senior Ryan Rodriguez was preparing for the start of the Binghamton golf team's spring season. The Bearcats would be leaving for their first tournament in Tennessee in a few days and he was home taking a lesson to prepare for the event.

That day, however, everything changed as COVID-19 led to the cancellation of all collegiate athletic events for the rest of the year. Nearly two months later, Rodriguez reflects on that day and his time with the Binghamton golf team.

Take us through the day that the spring season was canceled.

It was tough. You hate to see the season go like that. But I got over it quickly because there is no sense in dwelling on it. Ultimately I am thankful for the years that I had playing and all of the fun memories we made out there. That stays with me forever.

What were the next few days like for you, before leaving campus?

I was already home at a lesson when the spring season got canceled. When I realized that the situation was pretty serious I drove back to Binghamton and got my stuff and then I came back down to my house with my family. From there, I took a couple of days off from golf and focused on working out and staying active outside. After those couple of days, I got in touch with my coaches and we got right back to work where we left off. The situation is very uncertain and we want to make sure we're being proactive during this time rather than waiting and doing nothing.

How supportive has head coach Bernie Herceg and various Binghamton staffers been during this time?

Coach called me a couple of times and it's been great, he knows I don't need much time to get re-motivated, we talked a little bit about the virus but ultimately we have been talking about the future and what the next steps are for me. Those plans are still in the works.

How has the team managed to stay in touch during this time?

The team has a group chat where we stay in touch and see how everyone's family has been doing, golf courses are still open where we live so I have played with a couple of guys on the team the last few days and it is business as usual, you just hope everyone's family is doing okay and if they are then you appreciate the moment and the time we have here.

How has the adjustment been for you personally during this time?

The adjustment has been fine for me. As an athlete or as just a person in general, I really try to work on staying in the present and not letting the situation dictate my actions. For me COVID-19 is just another obstacle. I have had obstacles before and I am sure I will have plenty of more in my future. I just made sure I kept in contact with my coaches and adjusted my plans according to the situation. I have been working hard on my game ever since.

As a senior, do you know your future plans yet?

My future plans are still being decided, I had an idea of what I was going to do but then the current situation has caused me to adapt and explore all of my options. I am not sure exactly what the next step is but I am actively creating a plan and weighing out my possibilities.

How thankful have you been for having been a part of the Binghamton golf program?

The Binghamton golf program has been awesome. We've had a lot of fun. I think when I look back I'll sort of kick myself a little bit from a performance perspective because our team always had a ton of talent and I personally feel like I didn't contribute to the best of my abilities. Putting winning aside, I enjoyed my time here and the teams I was a part of. I have built some relationships with my teammates and coaches that will stay with me forever.

How has this time at home been in terms of getting closer to family?

The time at home means we get to finish a lot of projects. We're currently removing trees in our yard to build an archery range for hunting season. We've de-cluttered the house and finished up building a home gym. I feel like I've been going at a face pace lately and I wouldn't want it any other way.