The Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) and Mountain West announced they will not participate in NCAA intercollegiate competition during the Fall 2020 season.

The SCAC stated on July 16 that NCAA intercollegiate competition will not occur during the fall due to health and safety concerns stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes conference and non-conference competition. The league’s decision affects CC’s Division III sports of men’s soccer, volleyball, cross country, and tennis (non-traditional fall season).

“Not unlike the decision we had to make this past spring, today’s decision was difficult and not taken lightly,” says SCAC Commissioner Dwayne Hanberry. “At the very least, it is extremely frustrating to be forced to continue the suspension of competition this fall.”

On August 10, the Mountain West announced the indefinite postponement of all scheduled fall sports contests and championship events, in response to ongoing challenges with the effective mitigation and management of the COVID-19 virus in conjunction with athletic competition. That decision affects CC’s Division I women’s soccer program, which has been a member of the Mountain West since 2014.

“In regards to the Mountain West postponement of our season, our team is feeling a sense of relief that a decision was made and reassured that the health and safety of one another, our friends and family, and our social peers is a top priority,” says Tayla Wheeler ’21, a midfielder on the women’s soccer team. “While we are disappointed in not being able to compete, we believe this decision was the most responsible to make with the current state of the virus. The fall may look different for us, but we are excited to continue to safely train and prepare for a hopeful spring season. Go Tigers!”

“My heart aches for all the student-athletes and coaches out there affected by this,” says CC Vice President and Director of Athletics Lesley Irvine. “While these decisions were incredibly difficult, it became clear as we worked with our conference colleagues and evaluated all the factors. We remain deeply committed this year to providing meaningful experiences to our fall sport student-athletes.”

As Irvine says, the SCAC, Mountain West and Colorado College are dedicated to exploring meaningful competitive experiences for all fall sport student-athletes, including the possibility of conducting fall sport competition and championships during the spring semester. Teams will be encouraged, as health and safety conditions allow, to conduct conditioning, strength training, and other practice opportunities during the fall semester.

In addition, the SCAC announced in early August to delay all athletic competition until January, affecting CC’s winter sports of men’s and women’s swimming and diving, and men’s and women’s basketball.

A decision related to CC’s Division I hockey season will be made at a later date.