Multiple fall sports seasons for McKendree University postponed due to COVID-19
The Great Lakes Valley Conference announced Monday the majority of its fall athletic seasons for the league’s 15 full-time members has been postponed until the spring semester.
Among the 15-full time members affected by the decision is McKendree University in Lebanon.
The announcement came following numerous discussions among conference leadership and a vote by the GLVC Council of Presidents in relation to ongoing concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
The decision to postpone the majority of competition during the fall semester directly affects regular-season and championship segment play for four GLVC sports — football, women’s volleyball, men’s soccer and women’s soccer.
Schedules for those sports will now be moved to the spring in 2021. Men’s and women’s cross country will be permitted to compete this fall with the GLVC championship set for Oct. 24. The non-championship segment for men’s and women’s golf as well as men’s and women’s tennis will also be contested in the fall, with the championship seasons for those respective sports scheduled for spring competition.
Baseball and softball — which compete in the spring for their championship season — will be permitted to conduct only intrasquad scrimmages. Men’s and women’s lacrosse cannot schedule any competition until the second semester.
“Regrettably, we find ourselves having to make these difficult decisions in July similar to those made in mid-March, regarding the postponement of GLVC competition for football, soccer and volleyball for the fall semester,” said Jim Naumovich, commissioner of the GLVC.
“We remain optimistic that we can provide our student-athletes impacted by today’s news with meaningful opportunities to engage with their teammates and coaches throughout the fall semester to prepare for the planned return to competition in the spring.
“The GLVC and all 15 of our member institutions remain committed to prioritizing the health and welfare for all students, faculty, and staff, as well as for the citizens that reside in the community that supports each school.”
Other GLVC winter sports that usually see a fall start to their seasons — women’s bowling, men’s and women’s swimming and diving, and men’s and women’s indoor track and field — will be allowed to begin their seasons accordingly. The conference has set a date of Oct. 1 to determine a start date for men’s and women’s basketball along with men’s wrestling.
“I applaud the courage of the Great Lakes Valley Conference leadership to put the health and well-being of all student-athletes, coaches and fans first and foremost with today’s decision,” said Chuck Brueggemann, McKendree University director of athletics. “At McKendree we fully intend to condition, practice and offer meaningful opportunities for our student-athletes as they prepare for a safe return to competition during the 2020-21 academic year. It is our goal to do so within the guidelines set forth by the state of Illinois as well as the NCAA.”
Additional information involving McKendree
Brueggemann went on to state other McKendree sports programs that fall under a similar scheduling format but are not members of the GLVC will be treated as such. Therefore, regular season competition for women’s wrestling, Division I men’s hockey, Division II men’s hockey, women’s hockey, men’s and women’s powerlifting and men’s water polo — sports that begin competition play during the fall semester — will also be postponed.
Earlier this summer, the United States Bowling Congress announced the collegiate bowling season will not begin until January. That announcement affects the Bearcats’ men’s bowling program. Bass fishing, which utilizes a socially-distant format and competes year-round, will be reviewed at a later time according to Brueggemann.
McKendree University sponsors 36 athletic programs. Of that number, 21 teams compete under the banner of the GLVC. The Bearcats first competed as member of the league during the 2012-13 academic year.
According to the GLVC, work will begin soon on the formation of new schedules for the postponed sports. Details of those new schedules will be forthcoming.
