BUTTE — Behind the examples of Chancellor Les Cook the Montana Tech athletic department has joined the coalition to provide its student-athletes with everything they’ll need to succeed off-campus for the duration of the COVID-19 quarantine.
There’s no doubt the Tech athletes will be ready to go when the time comes to return to the filed, the court or the course. However, athletic director Matt Stepan wants to remind everyone of the big picture ahead.
“I have no doubt when the day comes and we’re all back to work and we’re all practicing that we’ll be ready to go," said Stepan. "And I think it’s important to keep this perspective: This isn’t a Montana Tech problem, this is not a Digger athletics problem, this is something we’re all dealing with."
In response to that, Montana Tech is poised to respond and help the Butte community in any way possible.
“Here at Digger athletics we’re working hard to reach out to our extended Digger community throughout Butte and beyond just to let them know we’re here with you. We may not be together physically, but we’re together with our positivity and we’ve got people ready to deliver meals, pick up groceries or do whatever we need to do to help our community get through this tough time," Stepan added.
With the closing of schools it also means kids across the Mining City are without the Tech Way program, which brings their favorite Oredigger student-athletes right into their classrooms. But Stepan reassured the community that Digger athletes near and far have reached out to check in on their biggest fans.
“What’s made me proud is the number of student-athletes that have reached out about the Tech Way classrooms they would typically be visiting," he said. "Our students love to get out in the community and love to help out, so they can’t wait to get back and get back into that routine where they’re making an impact on a daily basis.”
