PSAC cancels winter sports for 2020-21 season

The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference announced Wednesday that the winter sports seasons and championships have been canceled because of the coronavirus.

The cancellation comes following a vote of the league’s board of directors.

Teams in the PSAC are Seton Hill, Cal (Pa.), IUP, Slippery Rock, Clarion, Pitt-Johnstown, Edinboro, Mercyhurst, Gannon, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Kutztown, Bloomsburg, West Chester, Shippensburg, Millersville, East Stroudsburg and Shepherd.

Last week, board members voted to cancel PSAC championships in fall sports, yet allowed for league championship opportunities in those sports should six or more schools elect to participate.

Seton Hill plans to opt out for the fall and winter seasons, according to President Mary Finger, who sent a letter to the Seton Hill community Wednesday.

“While we understand how disappointing this news is to our fall and winter sports athletes, coaches and families, we have made this difficult decision in the best interest of the health and safety of all of those involved in Griffin athletics as well as the entire campus community,” she wrote.

Those schools electing to play had to abide by existing league rules and the NCAA guidelines that have been set because of the covid-19 pandemic. The same requirements exist for the winter sports that have been canceled.

Board members agreed to proceed with the intent to play a full regular and championship season for spring sports.

“With careful consideration to health concerns and realistic abilities to conduct sport seasons amid this pandemic, our conference and our membership is forced to make some very difficult decisions,” PSAC commissioner Steve Murray said in a news release. “With the time we have to continue weighing our options, we are fully committed to playing a spring sports season. We will remain supportive of any other decisions to play sports and host championship events should our membership view it as a safe and reasonable opportunity.”

Fall and winter sports subject to cancellation include men’s basketball, women’s basketball, men’s cross country, women’s cross country, field hockey, football, men’s indoor track and field, women’s indoor track and field, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, men’s swimming, women’s swimming, volleyball and wrestling.

“This decision puts the health and safety of our student-athletes, staff and spectators first,” IUP President Dr. Michael Driscoll said in a statement. “We will continue to look for opportunities for our student-athletes to engage in competition should the status of the virus allow it.”

IUP director of athletics Todd Garzarelli added: “IUP athletics understands the decision by the PSAC Board of Directors to cancel competition for winter sports. We continue to be in full support as the health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches and staff continues to be our priority.

“We will continue to explore possible opportunities for our fall and winter student-athletes to be able to compete in some capacity during the spring semester. We will do so with the health and well-being of our entire department in mind while keeping in mind the current landscape of this virus.”

Seton Hill plans to work toward a spring sports season, which includes baseball, softball, women’s lacrosse, golf, tennis and men’s and women’s outdoor track and field.

Finger said Seton Hill men’s lacrosse is part of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference and currently that conference is not following NCAA guidelines on testing. Seton Hill will only play men’s lacrosse if the GMAC decides to follow those testing guidelines.

In addition, Finger said Seton Hill will participate in men’s and women’s cross country and will opt-in to the PSAC championship race if at least five other PSAC members decide to compete in that sport, which is considered low-risk for covid-19 transmission.