Kenyon, in step with the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC), announced Friday that the suspension of intercollegiate athletics competition has been extended for all winter sports, including championship events for basketball, swimming and diving and indoor track and field.

"This decision was not easy, nor was it made lightly," Kenyon Director of Athletics, Fitness and Recreation Jill McCartney said. "The risks posed by travel and game play, and the uncertainty of the pandemic's course, are too high, and we must prioritize the health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches, staff and community."

The NCAC released a similar statement today…

In keeping with public health guidance, members have maintained universal masking and physical distancing protocols, limits on travel on and off campus, and limits on the size of on-campus gatherings, as well as contact tracing, quarantine and isolation protocols. Additionally, many of our institutions have made, or are considering, significant modifications to the 2020-21 academic calendar. As a result, many of our students will not return to campus for the spring semester until late January or early February.

Consistent with these policies, and the significant impact of the timing of students return, the NCAC Presidents' Council has decided unanimously, though with great reluctance, to cancel conference play, including conference championships, for the winter season. Institutions may make individual decisions regarding outside competition during the winter season.

Additionally, all NCAC institutions will not return student-athletes to campus for practices or other athletically related activity between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day.

Looking ahead for both Kenyon and the NCAC, no determination has been made about spring sports competition or about the possibility of playing a modified fall sports schedule during the spring season.

"We'll continue to take a wait-and-see approach," McCartney added. "We don't want to rush into any hasty decisions that might undermine what has already been a terrific and effective campus-wide response. We'll continue to follow the same federal, state, local, and Kenyon guidelines, while doing our best to take advantage of whatever opportunities might become available to us."

For more information, please visit Keeping Our Kenyon Community Safe and the NCAC's updated list of Frequently Asked Questions.