(from midwestconference.org)
GRINNELL, Iowa — The Midwest Conference announced today that it will suspend league competition through December 31. The presidents of the ten member institutions made the decision in coordination with representative athletic directors in order to protect the health and safety of student-athletes, coaches, staff and administration, their families, and broader campus and local communities. The Midwest Conference joins a growing number of NCAA Division III schools that have suspended fall and winter sports.
"We did everything we could over the past couple of months to develop schedules, event management protocols and testing policies so that we could compete this fall," said MWC Executive Director Heather Benning. "However, due to the recent sustained surge of cases across the country, and a lack of guaranteed access to timely and reliable testing with the frequency recommended by the NCAA, the Conference does not feel it is in a position to sponsor intercollegiate athletic competition at this time."
The Midwest Conference remains focused on providing meaningful experiences for all student athletes in 2020-2021. Member institutions are committed to maintaining engaging and significant team experiences for their student-athletes, which could include opportunities for practice, small-group training, skill development and/or strength & conditioning. Engagement in limited non-conference competition remains at the discretion of individual institutions.
The MWC will continue to monitor those factors impacting the decision for suspension of the fall and winter sport seasons, and take action to resume athletic competition when it is deemed safe to do so.
"It is disheartening that our Foresters will be unable to enjoy intercollegiate competition with our fellow Midwest Conference members this fall, but with the rapid spread of COVID-19 across much of the nation and similar announcements being made by numerous other conferences, we are confident in our decision," began Lake Forest College Vice President for Athletics and Career Advancement Jackie Slaats. "The health and well-being of our student-athletes, coaches, and campus community is of the utmost importance."
"We remain committed to providing the most meaningful athletic engagement possible," stated Interim Director of Athletics Blake Theisen. "Among our potential plans going forward is intercollegiate competition next spring for our fall and winter sports and we look forward to exploring any and all options to enhance the student-athlete experience at Lake Forest College."
Announcements regarding participation during the fall semester for the Forester golf (St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference), hockey (Northern Collegiate Hockey Association), and handball (US Handball Association) teams will be made by the end of the week.