3/16/2020 4:58 PM
TO: Athletics Press Release
SUBJECT: NSIC COVID-19 UPDATE – SPRING SPORTS
On Sunday night, the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference delivered a message to its 16 members suspending all intercollegiate athletics activities, canceling the 2020 spring NSIC competition and championships. Both the latest NSIC statement and a personal message from Rick Hartzell, Upper Iowa’s Vice President for Athletics, are below.
Latest NSIC Statement
The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Board of Directors voted unanimously to suspend all activities related to intercollegiate athletics and cancel the remaining 2020 spring conference competition and championships due to concerns of the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
The continued suspension of all countable athletically related activities (CARA) for all 18 NSIC sports remains in effect. The conference will re-evaluate CARA on or before April 1.
The health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and fans is our top priority. It is our responsibility to take these unprecedented actions to address this public-health crisis.
From Rick Hartzell, Upper Iowa Vice President for Athletics
First and foremost, to our six winter sport NCAA Championship qualifiers; Brinn, Justin, Chase, Dalton, Nick and Triston, I cannot imagine the pain and frustration that you, as well as your families and friends, are feeling. Please know that you have my utmost respect and sympathy for the lack of closure to your tremendous seasons. You will be remembered not for what didn’t take place at the championships, but for your exceptional seasons that earned you a spot with the nation’s best last weekend.
To our Peacock spirit and women’s bowling team, who lost the final competition of their season, as well as our spring sport athletes, who lost the remainder, and in some cases the entirety, of their seasons, your loss is a huge price to pay for the greater good of our University and community. Your sacrifice will be remembered as one of the solutions that helped our country stem the tide of this pandemic. Our coaches and administrators are working hard to find the answers to all your questions and concerns moving forward. Together, we will continue to work side-by-side through this difficult time.
On a final note, I want to thank all of our fans and alumni for their continued support of our Peacock athletics department and more importantly our student-athletes. Your outpouring of positive comments on social media for our six winter sport NCAA Championship qualifiers and all of our spring sport athletes were, and continue to be, well received and vital to them. Please continue to reach out to your fellow Peacocks and lift them up through this challenging time.
