The Midwest Conference will not sponsor league competition for fall or winter sports during the 2020-21 academic year, the league office announced today.

The Midwest Conference Presidents Council announced league competition, including championships, would not be contested for fall and winter sports. The decision was unanimous and covers men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, football, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's swimming and diving, men's and women's indoor track and field and volleyball, according to a release from the conference office.

"Clearly, we are incredibly disappointed to have to continue to cancel competition," Lawrence Director of Athletics Kim Tatro said. "We had all hoped for more for our winter sport athletes.  Unfortunately, the feasibility of competition in our current climate, which is actually more tenuous than it was during the fall, had a great impact on this decision. We remain hopeful for our spring sports, and our plan moving forward will focus on how best to compete in the spring safely."

Training, skill development and/or strength & conditioning sessions may continue for fall and winter sport athletes at the discretion of each institution, according to the statement from the Midwest Conference. Similarly, the council endorsed the concept of institutional autonomy with regard to scrimmages and/or competition.
 
"While we are disappointed that our fall and winter student-athletes won't be able to compete in the traditional Midwest Conference schedule, the health and safety of our campuses remains the top priority of our institutions," said Zach Messitte, Ripon College president and chair of the MWC Presidents Council. "We are hopeful that individual teams will continue to practice and, if appropriate, perhaps compete in some limited capacity in the months ahead."
 
Over the past several months, the conference has closely monitored the evolving COVID-19 situation, as well as its impact on member campuses, local communities and the Midwest region with the hope of resuming safe competition for its student-athletes. The recent surge in positive cases, both regionally and nationally, the resulting impact on academic calendars, and the continued uncertainty surrounding the pandemic are all factors in the decision not to play a winter athletic schedule.
 
The Midwest Conference continues to work diligently toward a spring season for baseball, softball, men's and women's tennis, and men's and women's outdoor track & field. The conference's COVID-19 Working Group has developed return-to-play guidance that aligns with the most current NCAA Sport Science Institute's Resocialization and Acclimatization recommendations, including elements such as testing, positive COVID-19 case response and environmental adjustments to reduce the risk of transmission.