Throughout the course of the fall semester, the Western Connecticut State University Department of Athletics and Recreational Sports has been committed to ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of our student-athletes, coaches, staff, and all members of the WestConn community. Both the department and the University have taken copious steps to mitigate the possible spread of COVID-19 on both of its campuses, including prohibiting intercollegiate competition, working closely with state, county and city health experts, implementing a comprehensive weekly testing plan, and following strict safety protocols for all athletic practices and training activities.
In developing plans for the spring semester, which is slated to begin on January 26, 2021 and in acknowledgement of the continued prevalence of the virus at the regional and national levels, WestConn has made the difficult decision that the men's and women's basketball and men's and women's swimming and diving athletic teams will not participate in intercollegiate competition for the 2020-21 season.
"Our winter student athletes are being asked to make additional sacrifices for the health and safety of themselves and the community that surrounds them." said Director of Athletics and Recreation Lori R. Mazza. "This difficult decision was not made in haste because we know it will cause such disappointment for our athletes, but I also know the resilience of each and every one of our student athletes and look forward to the day when WestConn athletics is back in its truest form".
Winter sport student-athletes will have the opportunity to participate in training and development activities upon return to campus in late January, including in-person practices and instruction, strength and conditioning training, student-athlete development programming, and leadership activities.
The decision to participate in intercollegiate athletic competitions for WestConn's spring teams, as well as the possibility of playing a modified fall sports schedule during the spring season, will be made at a later date, and will be informed by an evaluation of the state of the COVID-19 pandemic. The University will continue to confer with the NCAA, and the Little East Conference regarding subsequent decisions.
