BRIDGEPORT, W.Va.
(March 20) -- After a thorough review of public health recommendations regarding gatherings, decisions by states and municipalities, member campus decisions affecting student-athletes and in consideration of the NCAA's decision to cancel all spring 2020 championships, the Mountain East Conference has announced the cancellation of all spring competitions, championships.
Additionally, the league will continue to suspend countable athletically related activities (CARA) until at least June 1.
The MEC Board of Directors approved the recommendation by the league's committee of athletic administrators on Friday. The league had previously suspended competition and CARA indefinitely last week.
"While our hope was that we could avoid this conclusion to the 2020 spring season for our student-athletes, it became increasingly clear over the last week that this is the appropriate decision to make for the well-being of our student-athletes, coaches, campus communities and the public," said Commissioner Reid Amos. "Through this unprecedented and challenging time, the health and safety of our student-athletes has always been and will continue to be our primary concern. We look forward to the time when, with the support of doctors and public health officials, we can safely resume collegiate athletics."
(March 13) - Mountain East Conference (MEC) Commissioner Reid Amos has announced that all league athletic competitions have been suspended indefinitely.
"In the interest of the safety and well being of everyone involved in intercollegiate athletics and the public, the Mountain East Conference has suspended all athletic competitions indefinitely. The decision was made with unanimous support of the league's Board of Directors following today's decision by the NCAA to cancel winter and spring championships for the remainder of the 2019-20 academic year."
- Reid Amos, Mountain East Conference Commissioner
(March 13) - The NCAA has informed Division II institutions that they will be granted the ability to self-apply season-of-competition, and extension of eligibility waivers to student-athletes who have had their 2019-20 spring season canceled due to the COVID-19. Wheeling University spring sport athletes can be granted back their year of eligibility if they meet the following requirements:
(1) The student-athlete used a season of competition in a spring sport during the 2019-20 academic year;
(2) The student-athlete was eligible for competition when he or she competed during the 2019-20 academic year; and
(3) The student-athlete's season was ultimately canceled for reasons related to the COVID-19 outbreak.
(March 12 ) - The NCAA announced in a statement on Thursday afternoon the cancellation of all remaining winter and spring NCAA Championships effective immediately.
These decisions were based on the evolving COVID-19 public health threat, the ability to ensure the events do not contribute to spread of the pandemic, and the impracticality of hosting such events at any time during this academic year given ongoing decisions by other entities.
Wheeling University senior Danielle Stewart was set to compete in the pole vault at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Birmingham, Alabama, Saturday afternoon.
Note, the spring championship cancellation by the NCAA includes the following sports at Wheeling University: baseball, women's golf, softball, and men's and women's outdoor track & field.
