GPAC Semifinals Go On Despite Expected Blizzard
by Victoria Cameron
A blizzard warning in effect Saturday forced Concordia to move up the scheduled time for the Great Plains Athletic Conference semifinal women’s basketball game.
Predictions of up to 10 inches of snow kept some Hastings fans away.
The winter weather advisory said blizzard conditions were expected into the night with snow accumulations from three to 10 inches predicted. Wind gusts could range from 35 to 50 mph.
The GPAC semifinal women’s basketball game time was moved from 3 p.m. to 1 p.m. Concordia had a good student turnout, but the Hastings crowds were sparse.
“Hastings drove up last night because they were anticipating it (the snow) and they have arrangements to stay tonight if they have to, and it looks like they might have to,” said Vice President for Student Affairs and Athletics Gene Brooks.
Brooks was disappointed that C-Club was canceled because it’s a big revenue generator for the athletics department. He said that canceling athletic events is rare, especially at this point in the season. It affects scheduling and disappoints the athletes and their fans.
Seward Mayor Joshua Eickmeier said Seward is planning for trucks to start clearing snow from the street at midnight.
Concordia students are making the most out of the snow, but are experiencing some of its consequences as well.
“I think the scariest part is that I have to drive to commitments in Seward and Lincoln three times a week, and caring for my car and hoping it will start has been a daily prayer,” senior April Bayer said. “When you’re a kid, you don’t always realize that people still have jobs and certain obligations to others no matter how bad the weather gets, and that a lot more people are depending on you. That makes the snow a little less fun that it was when I was a kid.”
Seward declared a snow emergency on Tuesday night and Concordia canceled Wednesday morning classes.
“All (the snow emergency) does is remind people to be aware of where they’re parking so the street crew is able to clear the roads as fast and efficiently as possible,” Eickmeier said.
Morgan Consier contributed to this article.
