Former TTU Soccer Standout Got Out Of Italy

Former Tennessee Tech Soccer Standout Tina Marolt saw the early stages of Italy’s coronavirus crisis up close last month.

The former All-OVC midfielder played in the Italian League for Bergamo before the league shutdown. At that point, Italy had 79 reported COVID-19 cases. Today, that number nears 60,000.

“When you take a look at the situation now, I think we should have done more earlier,” Marolt told TTUSports.Com. “I was right there, right in the center. There’s more people dead there then there was in China.”

Marolt got out of Bergamo, located in one of Italy’s hardest hit areas, before the nation closed its borders. She returned to Slovenia, her homeland, where she has kept herself busy despite the uncertainy.

“I work out once, sometimes twice, a day to stay in shape,” Marolt said. “I still don’t know what’s going to happen with our league, so just trying to stay prepared. I also help with gardening at home to stay in shape, so just keeping myself busy and trying to be aware of what’s going on.”