LANCASTER, Pa. -- With the health and safety of its student-athletes, campus communities and the general public of paramount importance, the Centennial Conference Presidents Council has decided to cancel conference competition and championships for all fall and winter sports during the 2020-21 academic year.
Sports impacted by this decision include men's and women's cross country, field hockey, football, men's and women's soccer, volleyball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's swimming, men's and women's indoor track and field and wrestling. (Note: The Ursinus gymnastics team, though not a Centennial Conference member, will also abide by the decision).
This difficult decision was made following several months of meetings and discussions among all levels of the Conference governance structure. Extensive strategies were evaluated as to how to safely and effectively conduct Conference competitions for fall and winter sports during the spring semester. Ultimately, a number of factors impacted this decision, including the rising number of COVID-19 cases across the country, the shift of spring academic calendars to a later start, campus policies regarding travel, group size and visitors to campus, and the ability to meet recommended NCAA testing guidelines.
We understand this news is deeply disappointing given how valuable athletics is to the student experience and the educational missions of our member institutions. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to present challenges locally, regionally and nationally, the health and safety of our campuses and surrounding communities must be our top priority. Institutions will continue to find meaningful ways to engage student-athletes in athletic activities.
A decision about the possibility of spring sports competition will next be evaluated in January.
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Statement from President Brock Blomberg and Director of Athletics Laura Moliken
Dear Ursinus Community,
Earlier today, the Presidents Council of the Centennial Conference announced that — in the interest of the safety and well-being of our student-athletes and the entirety of our campus community— Centennial schools will not compete in conference play or championships for all fall and winter sports during the 2020-21 academic year. No decision has been made on spring sports.
In July, the Presidents Council had decided to suspend fall and winter competition, leaving open the possibility that those sports could be played at some point during the academic year. However, given the rise in cases in COVID-19 in our region and across the country, the presidents came to the difficult decision to not compete in conference play or championships.
The council will assess the situation for spring competition in January.
We're proud of the resiliency that our Ursinus student-athletes have shown amid such uncertainty and we will continue to look for ways to enhance their experience in the absence of conference competition. As was the case in the fall, college-wide decisions related to athletic activity for Ursinus will be made with the best interests of our students in mind.
Please have a safe and healthy holiday break and be well, Bears!
Sincerely,
President Blomberg
Director of Athletics Laura Moliken