Shenandoah University Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Bridget Lyons announced Tuesday that the university is suspending athletic competition until Jan. 1, 2021.
This decision comes in concert with the decision announced Tuesday by the ODAC Presidents Council to postpone conference regular season and championship competition through Dec. 31, 2020. A determination on a date to resume competition will be considered by this group later this fall.
This is a decision that we have discussed extensively over the past couple of weeks. I know this is extremely disappointing to our coaches, student-athletes and their families, and our fans. Our primary concern is the health and safety of our student-athletes. We all want to return to competition and we will do so as soon as it is safe for our student-athletes, opponents, and fans.”
Dr. Bridget Lyons
Plans are being formulated to conduct ODAC championship competition in the spring for the affected fall sports that do not have a second-semester competition component. Those sports include field hockey, football, men’s and women’s soccer, and volleyball.
These plans anticipate the approval of an NCAA waiver allowing the ODAC the flexibility to conduct championships for the fall sports during the spring semester.
Men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s tennis, and men’s wrestling were also scheduled to compete in the fall semester. All of these sports, with the exception of men’s and women’s cross country, have regular-season competition scheduled after January 1. The members of the cross country programs will participate in both indoor and outdoor track & field championships seasons.
Baseball, men’s and women’s lacrosse, and softball will be permitted to hold practice this fall but will not take part in the one day of allowed outside competition.
All practice schedules will be coordinated with the athletic training staff to ensure coverage for each sport and allow the AT staff to properly assess student-athlete health prior to each session.
Intercollegiate athletics is an important part of a student-athlete’s experience. As such, Shenandoah’s 22 athletic programs will all have the opportunity to practice in a manner that is deemed appropriate by the NCAA, the CDC and the ODAC.
Although we will miss cheering on our Hornets, know that we continue to be proud of all our student-athletes and can’t wait to see them excel in the future. Regardless of current circumstances, there are still opportunities this fall for athletes to learn, train, challenge themselves and grow together as a team. As long as our Shenandoah pride and spirit remain strong, every day is a great day to be a Hornet.”
President Tracy Fitzsimmons, Ph.D.
All 22 SU programs, including its newest program, men’s wrestling, have a practice segment occurring during the fall semester.
