In this era of the COVID-19 pandemic, remaining a conscientious scholar while devoting time to stay in shape for an eventual return to competition has proven to be quite a challenge for many student-athletes. Chico State women’s distance runner Taylor Lustyan has accepted that challenge and then some this academic year, successfully juggling classroom and athletic responsibilities with community involvement as part of Chico State’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). Newly named as one of SAAC’s co-presidents, Lustyan’s impressive efforts make her the latest Wildcat of the Week.
Lustyan has served as one of the 26 SAAC members (two from each of Chico State’s 13 NCAA-sanctioned athletic programs) for the past two years. When Associate Director of Athletics Brian Ceccon recently suggested she join Paul Kostyshak as SAAC’s co-president, Lustyan didn’t need to think twice.
“I had been working with Brian on developing a diversity and inclusion program within the Athletics department,” Lustyan said. “It became a big passion of mine this past semester, so when he reached out during winter break and offered me the co-presidency, I jumped on it. It’s one of the things that have helped me stay motivated during the pandemic.
“Being a student-athlete is a privilege, and having a voice within athletics is even more so,” she said.
During the fall, Lustyan collaborated closely with Kostyshak and fellow SAAC members Brennan Wheeler (men’s basketball) and Taylor Stewart (women’s golf) to develop a social media program to bring attention to the issues of diversity and inclusion.
“It was a way to tie in with the NCAA’s national diversity and inclusion campaign that began in October,” Lustyan said. “Once we participated in that, we all just stuck to it and continued the program in our own way at Chico State. Everyone seemed to be passionate about (the campaign) and contributed their own ideas. It was exciting to see, especially after the year we had.”
Now installed as co-president, Lustyan is excited about how the many programs SAAC will be tackling during the spring semester to further the organization’s goals of building a sense of community within the Athletics program involving all Wildcat teams, promoting a positive student-athlete image on campus, and participate in community service efforts.
“We will continue to support diversity and inclusion through the spring,” Lustyan said. “We’ve also been promoting and celebrating Black History Month in February. And we’re bringing back last year’s “Scratch the Stigma” campaign (developed by former Wildcat track & field standout Nadia Torkman to bring attention to student-athlete health and wellness) to tie into Mental Health Awareness Month in May.”
With all this activity, it would seem like Lustyan hasn’t missed a beat since competition was halted last March. But like everyone else, she has had to deal with the limitations the pandemic has forced upon everyday life. Despite having to do her classwork remotely and take responsibility for her athletic upkeep, Lustyan has adapted to the “new normal.”
“There’s definitely been a lot of adjusting,” she said. “A lot of student-athletes can relate. We’ve had so much structure in our lives. Now we have to navigate what we do with all this time on our hands, and that’s been the hardest part.”
Lustyan’s studies certainly haven’t suffered. A 2019–20 California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) All-Academic selection, the nutrition major was recently among 36 Wildcat student-athletes included on the conference’s Fall Academic Honor Roll.
“As far as studies go, I think a lot of us have experienced our best semester yet,” Lustyan said. “We’re used to facing adversity and being on a time crunch. I think sitting in front of a laptop (instead of attending lectures) is very difficult, though. I’m not retaining as much as I normally would. It takes a lot of discipline, and working through distractions has been a challenge of its own.”
Living in Chico and rooming with Wildcat teammates Sophia Pearson and Hope Morgan, Lustyan is making sure staying in shape is a priority.
“The people I’ve been working out with are friends in my inner circle,” she said. “We get out and run in the morning, and that gets us out of bed and gets the day off to a positive start.”
Lustyan has also been keeping in regular contact with her teammates and head coach Gary Towne.
“Gary e-mails us a couple times a week,” Lustyan said. “On a personal level, he reaches out to each athlete just to check in. He communicates via Zoom, and keeps up with us through a running app called Strava, so he can monitor our workouts and provide comments and encouragement.
“We’ve done a pretty good job of staying in touch with our teammates. Nora Pizzella and myself have organized a couple of alumni Zoom meetings, with (professional runners and former Chico State stars) Alia Gray and Jessica Varela providing us with insight and words of encouragement.”
Even with the life adjustments Lustyan has made as a result of the pandemic, there are certain aspects of college life she misses.
“Honestly, early morning practice runs or cross training at 7:30 a.m. were always a good start to the day,” Lustyan said. “You always felt more productive than the rest of the world at 7:30. Of course, I miss walking on campus, going to classes…seeing classmates that you’ve got to know over the years.”
Lustyan competed in just one running event during the abbreviated 2020 track & field season, and the last time she ran a cross country race was the 2019 NCAA Championships in Sacramento. Lustyan still has two years of eligibility remaining in both cross country and track, and has every intention of returning to competition in the fall.
In the meantime, she stays busy with SAAC, her studies, working out, and working together with her roommates to raise a six-month-old Australian cattle/lab mix puppy named Nova (“She’s kept us busy and entertained,” Lustyan said).
And for her Wildcat Family, Lustyan offers these words of encouragement as the pandemic continues to complicate things.
“Keep doing what you’re doing,” she said. “Whether its sports or something else, be sure to do one thing a day that makes you happy.”
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