Editor's Note:  This is a series of stories shared by Gorillas to Gorillas as we all embark upon this new "season" in our lives. These certainly are unprecedented times, for young and old alike. Our hope is for Gorilla student-athletes, past and present, coaches and members of Gorilla Nation to read these pieces, awaken their Gorilla memories and then compose their own story to share with us. There is strength in numbers.
 
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Last week before the first edition of "Through the Eyes of a Gorilla" was released, Dan (Wilkes) reached out and asked if I would take a crack at this. I enjoy writing but never had considered writing for a large group of people, so please bear with me!
 
The problem with quarantine is the amount of time to think, so narrowing the ideas to present has been difficult. I don't have the history with Pittsburg State that Dan does, as he graduated the year before I was born. I've only had the honor of watching re-runs of the great Pitt State moments mostly on the Jungle-tron while getting fired up for games! Meeting the greats of the past like Coach Iba and others has offered slight glimpses but only glimpses. All I can do is offer a few thoughts on the present and recent years. A view into the world of a dual sport athlete who has grown to love the trials of college athletics! I hope you enjoy.
 
Stress, man what a word — one that has defined the lives of many Americans for the past few weeks. No matter what camp you find yourself in with regards to the Covid-19 virus you surely have felt the effects. For me, this started with only a mention of the corona virus back in early February. In the daily chatter of a track practice it had been brought up and discussed. We joked about it and disregarded it as another scare coming at us from the media, which is so prevalent in our lives. Little did we know it would change the course of how the world reacts to global health crises. The fact that I am typing a story like this is baffling to me and shows how things can change. Anyways corona virus vanished from discussion for a while after that and life continued as normal.
 
Come the end of indoor track season the Pitt State women had claimed the conference title and our men's team had fought hard to come home runner up. Life was good, get geared up for nationals and wrap up senior season trying to achieve goals I had set way back in junior high. Being dual sport this was the only season in five years at Pitt that I'd competed or been involved with just one team. This was the time to capitalize on all the hard work. This was the time that I would reap the harvest. I never knew that conference would be my last indoor meet and bring the plans I had to an end. We loaded up and headed for Birmingham, Alabama to compete with the pride we Gorillas carry. This is when Covid-19 began to show how it would change the world.
 
Arriving down south after BBQ stops and long bus rides, things just felt off. World health organizations were warning the world, and word out of other countries of this virus began to sneak into view. Advised to be sanitary we continued with business as usual. Two days before the events began, they canceled the banquet dinner. Next, they told us to make list of those who would be coming to watch, limiting it to those close family members. I won't continue to bore you with the details because we all know they ended up canceling everything. I was in the hotel room when the news broke; and, just like that, it was all over.
 
I tell that story to say this:  I was at a total loss, free fall. Never have I had my schedule open like this. Plans I had for the next year suddenly fell apart and the schedule opened like the biblical Red Sea.  Never have I had my world blow up in my face like this. And now after several weeks I can say with confidence that it's okay.
 
Back to the word stress:  a negative word in most cases, but a positive word in a few. Stress molds us and challenges us to become more. Handled correctly, it can be the catalyst for unforeseen growth. When our lives changed, we all took on new stresses:  maybe stress that will make us think about our elderly grandparents or people in our lives who have those underlying health conditions; maybe a push to think less about ourselves and more about people we love; a terrible push in the form of a life-threatening sickness, but a push.
 
Jesus said it best when he told us not to be anxious and to love our neighbor. So, in this crazy time with all the stress we still have, I urge you to do just that. Pull the plane out of free fall, grab the reins of life, and adapt. This isn't what we wanted at all -- certainly not what I wanted. I'm not going to lie, I moped around like a loser for weeks because of this whole thing. But now it's time to be the person who reaches out, to be the person who is a rock for others. Look to the future and pray for those around you who need it! We have a perfect opportunity to embody what this University always talks about! Sports will come back, classes will resume, and the stands will be full once again. But maybe never again will you have the chance to do what you're doing right now.
 
I, by no means, intended to preach at or come off too strong to anyone. I only hope to encourage you, wherever you may be! This is the adventure!
 
Thank you for your time and OAGAAG.
 
Levi Wyrick
 
Levi Wyrick was a defensive end for the Gorillas from 2015-19 and he's an All-MIAA and All-America thrower in track & field. The Elk City, Kan., native won the 2018-19 Ken B. Jones Award as the MIAA Male Student-Athlete of the Year. He's pursuing his master's degree in educational leadership.
 
 
Please share your own personal stories/thoughts via email to dwilkes@pittstate.edu. We want to share them! (PSU Athletics reserves the right to edit content for space and appropriateness. We cannot promise to publish every submission, but we will do our best.) Thanks Gorilla Nation!

Through the Eyes of a Gorilla Archives
Vol. I - Dan Wilkes, Associate AD/Communications (Apr. 3)