WIAC Makes Statement on Fall Seasons
Following a very deliberative process to allow for full consideration of the most up-to-date information pertaining to COVID-19, the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) has announced updates to the fall sports season.
Conference seasons and championships in the sports of football, women's soccer, women's volleyball and men's and women's cross country are to be canceled for the 2020-21 academic year. UW-Oshkosh will determine when and how many practice opportunities, within the limitations stipulated by the NCAA and in accordance with NCAA, federal, state, local, and institutional safety guidelines, will be conducted throughout the 2020-21 academic year.
All competition in the sports of women's tennis and women's golf will be suspended for the 2020 fall term. The WIAC seasons and championships in the sports of women's tennis and women's golf will be moved to the 2021 spring term. In the upcoming weeks, in the sport of women's tennis and women's golf, UW-Oshkosh will determine when and how many practice opportunities, within the limitations stipulated by the NCAA and in accordance with NCAA, federal, state, local, and institutional safety guidelines will be conducted during the fall semester.
"Today's announcement from the WIAC and Council of Chancellors has been a very difficult one in our athletic department," said Assistant Chancellor, Director of Athletics Darryl Sims. "In an effort to explore possible opportunities, we, as a conference, agreed that this is the best path forward given the guidelines set forth by the NCAA and the resocialization process. We certainly understand this decision is an unpleasant one, but we hope our student-athletes, coaches, administrators and support staff all appreciate and understand that their health, safety and well-being were the driving force behind this decision."
Determinations with regards to the winter sports season, including the start date and the manner in which competition will be conducted, will be determined at a later date.
UW-Oshkosh has put together a Frequently Asked Questions for more information on how this impacts student-athletes.