WAC suspends fall competition

Ivan Palacios | THE RIDER

UTRGV Vice President and Director of Athletics Chasse Conque will hold a news conference via Zoom at 1:45 p.m. today in regard to the Western Athletic Conference board of directors’ vote to suspend all fall championship and non-championship sports. The decision comes amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. 

The list of conferences suspending fall competition has continued to grow over the last few days. The WAC became the 18th NCAA Division I conference to suspend fall competition. 

“It obviously was a difficult decision, and not one made lightly,” WAC Commissioner Jeff Hurd said in a news release in reference to today’s vote by the board. “But it was one made after extensive discussion and consideration of all relevant factors as well as input from conference administrators and the Medical Advisory Committee. The health and safety of our student-athletes, the many others associated with our athletics programs and all those in our campus environments always will be the highest priority.” 

The decision by the WAC means UTRGV will not compete in volleyball, men’s and women’s soccer, cross-country, golf, tennis and baseball this fall. 

The WAC did not rule out fall sports being moved to the spring if conditions were feasible. In a release by the NCAA earlier this month, the decision to postpone fall sports to a later date would be contingent on scientific data available at that time in regard to COVID-19,  as well as other considerations. 

Men’s and women’s basketball will also be postponed through the end of October pending the WAC board’s discussion on winter athletics. 

“This was a difficult decision, but one made with our student-athletes’ health and welfare at the forefront,” UTRGV Vice President and Director of Athletics Chasse Conque said in today’s news release. “The last few months have dealt us considerable adversity, but I am confident that we will work through these challenging times and emerge stronger. The future remains bright for UTRGV Athletics and the Rio Grande Valley.”

While the decision suspends all fall competition, conditioning, strength training and other practice opportunities will be allowed per institutional discretion, according to the release. 

“Our primary focus continues to be the development of our student-athletes–mind, body and spirit,” Conque said. “While today’s decision delays competition, our commitment to our young people has never been stronger. We will continue to invest in the academic and athletic careers of our student-athletes and we all look forward to the day we return to competition and unite with our fans and campus community.”