La Feria News

WAC delays start of fall sports

Special to LFN

EDINBURG – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Department of Intercollegiate Athletics learned on Wednesday that, to help promote a safe return to competition for student-athletes, coaches, and staff amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Western Athletic Conference is delaying the start of women’s soccer competition until Sept. 15, volleyball competition until Sept. 21, and men’s soccer competition until Sept. 23.

Additionally, the UTRGV men’s and women’s cross country, golf and tennis teams will not compete in any events prior to Sept. 15.

The delay to the start of the season is designed to allow all teams to safely re-acclimate to training and competition following the cancellation of most organized spring and summer conditioning programs.

“Two WAC committees, the Medical Advisory Group and the Contingency Planning Group, have been meeting on a weekly basis to ensure the safest manner for member institutions to conduct fall competition,” WAC Commissioner Jeff Hurd said. “Their recommendations, which include a strong testing policy as well as a requirement for each of our institutions to put together an Emergency Action Plan, were reviewed and approved by the Board.”

The women’s soccer team was originally scheduled to open its season on Aug. 20 and compete in eight contests, including four at home, prior to Sept. 15.

The volleyball team was originally scheduled to open its season on Aug. 28 and compete in 13 contests, including three at home, prior to Sept. 21.

The men’s soccer team was originally scheduled to open its season on Aug. 27 and compete in six contests, including two at home, prior to Sept. 23.

The cross country teams were originally scheduled to open their season on Sept. 1 and compete in one meet prior to Sept. 15.

The women’s golf team was originally scheduled to open its season on Sept. 14 and will pull out of that tournament.

The WAC Board of Directors will continue to monitor changing COVID-19 conditions and will conduct additional reviews as they become necessary.

Complete schedules for each team will be made available at a later date.

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