Madonna University has announced that all fall competition will be moved to the spring semester with teams still permitted to train and practice throughout the fall semester in accordance with NAIA and WHAC guidelines. The administration also confirmed that all scholarships will be honored.
The WHAC Presidents today met to discuss the fall semester of intercollegiate athletics in the WHAC and NAIA.  In the tradition of providing a positive student-athlete experience, the WHAC presidents voted to move championship events in Women’s Volleyball, Men’s and Women’s Soccer and Men and Women’s Cross Country to the spring. They will also provide a fall and spring schedule for members in these sports based on institutional choices.
 “Over this time period, the WHAC Presidents have truly worked together to understand what each member is confronting and have kept the importance of engaging our student-athletes at the highest level of care at the forefront.” stated commissioner, Rob Miller.
In addition to the WHAC’s announcement, the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) announced that it to would push the fall 2020 season to the spring of 2021. In a similar decision this week, the NAIA announced that fall national championships in men’s and women’s soccer, women’s volleyball, and cross country would be postponed to the spring, and football also would move to the spring.
In addition to the scheduled changes, all student-athletes will move in the campus residence halls with the rest of the student body on the dates specified by residence life. No training will take place prior to the start of classes.
“Over the upcoming weeks, we will be working closely with the NAIA, WHAC, and the MSFA to determine when the regular season may occur in the spring,” said Madonna Athletics Director Scott Kennell.
“We are committed, within the guidelines of the NAIA, CDC, state and local government, to protect and maintain the safety of our student-athletes, coaches, and staff while creating ways to workout on campus this fall through these difficult times,” said Kennell. “All scholarships will be honored. When something bad happens, you have three choices; you can let it destroy you, let it define you, or let it strengthen you. We will get through these difficult times together and emerge even stronger. #CrusaderNation”
The NAIA, WHAC, and Madonna University join a growing list of schools and conferences to postpone or cancel the fall season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The WHAC is the seventh NAIA conference to postpone most or all of their fall sports competitions, while all but two NCAA Division III conferences, the National Junior College Athletic Association, the Ivy League, and numerous DII and DI conferences have canceled, postponed or altered their fall seasons.
This article was written using a press release, media, and information from the Madonna University. For more sports, news, and entertainment follow us on Twitter@MWSNsports or like the MWSN page on Facebook.
