Winona, Minn. - Hy-Vee, Inc., and Winona State Athletics recently announced a partnership to utilize COVID-19 testing kits allocated to Hy-Vee pharmacy locations throughout its eight-state region, including Winona. Through the partnership, Warrior athletic programs will be able to meet NCAA Sport Science Institute (SSI) COVID-19 testing recommendations published earlier this year in the Resocialization of Collegiate Sport and Recommendations for Game Day Operations in Basketball.
"It is hard to put into words how much we appreciate Hy-Vee's help in testing our student-athletes so we can continue to prepare for the return of Warrior athletics this winter," stated Winona State athletic director Eric Schoh.
"We literally had no other option but to shut down again, but Hy-Vee saved the day. They have always been great supporters of ours, and this is something that builds on that tremendous partnership. We are truly grateful," Schoh said.
Winona State student-athletes participating in the winter sports of men's and women's basketball, gymnastics and track and field will meet NCAA SSI testing protocols through the Hy-Vee program. Each Warrior student-athlete and staff member within the NCAA Tier I and Tier II categories will be tested multiple times a week, per NCAA SSI recommendations.
Coordination of the Hy-Vee COVID testing is the work of the Warrior sports medicine training staff under the direction of head athletic trainer Stacey Czaplewski and Hy-Vee pharmacy technicians. Testing of Winona State teams occurs in McCown gymnasium, allowing for social distancing and safe interaction between student-athletes, Warrior staff and Hy-Vee employees.
As noted on the Hy-Vee website, the entire test process takes about five minutes. The tests utilized in the Winona State testing program are also available free of charge to the public and are administered via a Hy-Vee pharmacy drive-thru testing process.
Individuals do not have to have COVID-19 symptoms to be tested, but they must register online to receive a test voucher number, testing site and appointment time. The COVID-19 tests are being coordinated by eTrueNorth. The testing was first rolled out in August to 11 Hy-Vee pharmacy locations. Testing hours vary by location, so patients should visit www.doineedacovid19test.com to find available testing hours for their location.
Hy-Vee, Inc. is an employee-owned corporation operating more than 275 retail stores across eight states with sales of $10 billion annually. The supermarket chain is synonymous with quality, variety, convenience, healthy lifestyles, culinary expertise, and superior customer service. Hy-Vee ranks in the Top 10 Most Trusted Brands and has been named one of America's Top 5 favorite grocery stores. The company's more than 85,000 employees provide "A Helpful Smile in Every Aisle" to customers every day. For additional information, visit www.hy-vee.com.
For the most current news in Warrior Athletics, please visit: www.WINONASTATEWARRIORS.com and @WinonaStateATH.
About Winona State University Athletics:
The Winona State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, as an integral part of the educational mission of the institution, is committed to offering opportunities to experience academic and athletic excellence for our student-athletes through two simple words:
Graduate Champions.
Fourteen Warrior programs compete at the NCAA Division II level within the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). Winona State University competes as an affiliate member of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) in the sport of women's gymnastics.
Media Contact:
Pete Watkins, Director of Athletic Communications | Ph: 507.457.5577 | Email: pwatkins@winona.edu
