Carnegie Mellon athletics cancels winter sports seasons

Carnegie Mellon athletics announced Thursday it has canceled intercollegiate competition for the winter season because of ongoing concerns with the coronavirus pandemic.

In a statement from the athletic department, Tartans athletic teams also will not resume play any sooner than March 1, 2021.

The decision affects the schedules for both the men’s and women’s teams for basketball, swimming and indoor track and field. More than a dozen WPIAL graduates are members of those teams.

Director of athletics Josh Centor shared the decision with the affected student-athletes in an email.

“While we will not compete in those sports this winter, we will not shut the door on competitive opportunities this academic year,” Centor said in a segment of the email shared in the statement.

Centor went on to explain the Return to Play Task Force, which includes university administrators and team physicians, will continue to explore options for fall sports to compete in the spring. The fall sports season was postponed in July.

“If there is an opportunity for us to play basketball or swim, we will explore it,” Centor said.

“We will also continue to explore track and field opportunities, with a likely emphasis on the outdoor season.”

CMU athletics said its decision comes on the heels of a decision by the University Athletic Association on Oct. 27 which canceled all formal winter sports competition.

Thursday’s release also said the Return to Play Task Force will continue to monitor national coronavirus developments and work with the university’s senior administration regarding a safe return to competition.