MSJC suspends athletics through at least March

News release from Mt. San Jacinto College:

Mt. San Jacinto College has decided to opt out of the upcoming Spring I athletics season out of an abundance of caution during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The college considered state and county health guidelines as well as the current COVD-19 trends in making its decision by the Dec. 18 deadline set by the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA). MSJC met with other Region 9 community colleges and found they are making the same decision.

During the summer, the CCCAA approved a plan to shift the traditional fall sports of football, women’s volleyball, women’s soccer, and women’s golf into the winter. If the pandemic had eased up, those sports would have coincided with the winter sports of men’s and women’s basketball. Instead, the pandemic began to spike again, forcing the decision on Spring I sports, which runs Feb. 4 through April 17, 2021.

“This was an extremely difficult decision,” said Dr. Roger Schultz, MSJC Superintendent/President. “This year has hit our student-athletes and us fans hard. But the realities of the pandemic mean there will be no other teams for MSJC Eagles to play against and we must do everything we can to keep our students safe and healthy. That said, we are hopeful that our MSJC Eagles can play in Spring II. Before our student-athletes do play again, we will make sure they are prepared and protected.”

A decision on Spring II sports, which runs March 27 through June 23 and includes softball, baseball, men’s and women’s tennis, and men’s golf, must be made by Feb. 26, 2021.