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DELAWARE, Ohio – Today the North Coast Athletic Conference announced it is canceling conference competition and championships for the winter 2020-2021 season in response to the worsening COVID-19 pandemic.
According the NCAC announcement: “We did not make this decision lightly, but it has become increasingly clear that it is the right decision to protect the health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches, staff and administration, their families, and our broader campus and local communities.”
At Ohio Wesleyan University, the announcement will impact men’s & women’s basketball, men’s & women’s swimming & diving, and men’s & women’s track & field. The Ohio Wesleyan wrestling team is not directly affected as it is not an NCAC sport.
Doug Zipp, OWU athletics director, said the decision is the right one, although it is difficult for everyone involved.
“Our number one concern remains the long-term health and safety of our entire campus community,” Zipp said in a statement to campus. “Unfortunately, there is still much uncertainty around the coronavirus, including its spread, testing, prevention, and treatment.”
Though formal conference competition and championships won’t be held, Zipp said, Ohio Wesleyan will continue to explore outside competition for the upcoming season in conjunction with the latest public health developments and guidelines.
“We at OWU are determined to try to provide a competitive opportunity for our winter sport athletes,” he said. “We will explore the possibility of competitions with other interested institutions inside or outside of the NCAC. … Our coaches and staff remain committed to doing what we can to provide our student-athletes with the best experience possible under the circumstances.”
Read more about Battling Bishop athletics at battlingbishops.com.
Founded in 1842, Ohio Wesleyan University is one of the nation’s premier liberal arts universities. Located in Delaware, Ohio, the private university offers more undergraduate majors than many universities its size and competes in 24 NCAA Division III varsity sports. Through its signature program, The OWU Connection, Ohio Wesleyan teaches students to integrate knowledge across disciplines, build a diverse and global perspective, and apply knowledge in real-world settings. Ohio Wesleyan is featured in the book “Colleges That Change Lives” and included on the U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review “best colleges” lists. Learn more at owu.edu.