The Coronavirus has impacted many people around the world, and the wrestling community is no exception. Yesterday, NCAA President Mark Emmert announced that most fans would not be allowed to attend NCAA Championship events, including next week's NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.

In the following hours, members of the wrestling community reacted to the news on Twitter.

Comments on Fan Experience

Some of the most immediate reactions to the news of limited attendance focused on the drastic shift in the fan and athlete experience of the event.

Wrestling journalist Alex Steen noted with disappointment that he, and other fans who had been planning to attend the NCAA Championships, would now have to follow the event online.

There is the kill shot. I'll be going home and figuring out the best way to stream all 8 mats in my living room. Sad, but I get it. https://t.co/8ZObURGT0x

— Alex Steen (@AlexSteenUNAT) March 11, 2020

Purdue 149-pounder and NCAA qualifier Griffin Parriott pointed out something that many have been observing, that this particular NCAA Championship would have seen record-high attendance, but now it is more likely to set records for the lowest attended NCAA Championships of the modern era.

From Record high attendance to record low attendance. https://t.co/RhobULtzMY

— Griffin Parriott (@GriffSvo) March 11, 2020

2015 NCAA finalist Nate Brown of Lehigh commented on the drastic change to the in-venue experience of this year's nationals. As Brown poignantly suggests, this year's Championships could look more like the Cadet and Junior nationals than a Division I wrestling championships.

Do you play music the entire time at NCAAs..it’s essentially college Fargo but one state over

— Nathaniel Brown (@NookieBrown22) March 11, 2020

Athletes and Coaches Still Embracing Competition

Despite the drastic shift in how fans will experience the 2020 NCAA Wrestling Championships, athletes and coaches are still embracing the opportunity to compete for college wrestling's ultimate prize.

Wisconsin senior Johnny Sebastian's tweet articulated a sentiment that many athletes feel, the stakes for this year's event are just as high as any other NCAA Championships.

What do they call the person who wins an NCAA Championship without any fans?

An NCAA Champion.

Control what you can control! lets goooooo!

— Johnny Sebastian (@johnnywrestling) March 11, 2020

Coach Tom Ryan of Ohio State shared a similar idea.

Being the toughest man in the country in ones weight class can be settled in a dark ally as well as a lit up street. @wrestlingbucks

— Thomas Ryan (@Buckeye158) March 12, 2020

Concepts like this have been shared by many on Twitter, but Army West Point head coach Kevin Ward punctuated the idea with his Tweet reminding the wrestling community that, while this event might not have its regular fanfare, the athletes will still have a chance to shine.

We grew up wrestling n dark rooms,rarely had windows,no fans there cheering. No one to see the blood, sweat & tears we put into achieving our dream. No one counting the sacrifice.We work n the dark so we can shine under the lights.The lights will still be there. Time to shine ? https://t.co/CL1qmuvASx

— Kevin Ward⚔️??⚔️ (@CoachKWard) March 12, 2020

Good Natured Takes

The Coronavirus is undoubtedly serious, as is its impact on the NCAA Championships. Still, some members of the wrestling community lent their senses of humor to the situation.

Oklahoma's Anthony Mantanona, for example, called dibs on first place in the event that NCAAs are completely canceled, and who can deny the legitimacy of dibs?

I call dibs on first place if NCAAs get canceled

— ANT-KNEE (@mantanona98) March 12, 2020

Two-time All-American Dylan Palacio joked about the passionate Hawkeye fans and how their absence in Minneapolis might reduce the pressure on officials to call stalling. 

No Fans At NCAAS? How Are The Refs Gonna Know When Someone Is Stalling Without Iowa Fans There.

— Dylan Palacio (@greentoepalacio) March 11, 2020

The Coronavirus continues to impact sporting events around the world. We will do our best to keep the wrestling community abreast of any developments that impact NCAAs or other major upcoming events.