By Aidan Bearden / Staff Writer  

Missouri Valley University coaches have adapted to the extreme heat by moving practices earlier. Baseball, tennis, and football have all shifted practice times to comply with the NAIA’s heat and humidity medical policy. MVU is in the third regional categorization of risk zones, which is based on the typical heat and humidity of the respective region. The NAIA states that sporting events in category 3 zones shall not occur if it is hotter than 92 degrees Fahrenheit. Since September 1, the median high has been 98 Fahrenheit, with every day of this month reaching over the NAIA’s heat and humidity medical policy.

Tennis player KC Liebenberg feels that the temporarily adopted morning practices are not as productive as their usual afternoon practices.

“I would rather deal with the heat, because I genuinely don’t like waking up at 5:15 everyday, especially if we have to put everything into it [during practice], said Liebenberg. “It would be just as productive in the afternoon… I don’t think that we are putting in as much as we can in the mornings.”

Liebenberg also suggested shorter afternoon practices with more breaks during the extreme heat practices. Although maybe some students would agree with shorter afternoon practices, it is still against NAIA policy. 

Baseball player Brayden Hays has come to enjoy the earlier start to his day.

 “I think they suck whenever you wake up, but once you get done with them you have the rest of your day to do whatever you like and you feel accomplished,” Hays said.

The extreme heat has not only affected athletes’ practice scheduling, but also the cafeteria hours in Ferguson, leading to dinner being delayed by an hour. This schedule delay was supposed to end on September 4, however with the continuation of extreme heat, the cafeteria has continued to serve dinner at 6 p.m. This extension of the dinner delay has confused many students with some students waiting outside the cafeteria at 5 p.m. The weather is expected to cool down this upcoming week, most likely leading to a return in regular practice schedules.