CLEVELAND — On the same day the Ivy League canceled all fall sports, including football, this season amid COVID-19 concerns, Case Western Reserve University announced it would be doing the same.
CWRU announced that the university’s fall varsity sports will not participate in intercollegiate competition. The teams impacted include football, men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball, men’s and women’s cross country and men’s and women’s tennis.
"After extensive internal deliberation, consultation with health experts, and discussion with members of the University Athletic Association, we have determined that varsity and club athletic competition cannot take place safely this fall," said CWRU Director of Athletics & Chair of Physical Education Amy Backus in a letter to student-athletes on Wednesday. “We very much regret that health considerations require this decision. We will be working with coaches and other staff to develop options for student-athletes to be able to continue to practice and otherwise maintain their fitness; please note that this season will not count against athletes' time of eligibility to compete.”
Backus said that non-traditional sport seasons will not compete in the fall and a decision about winter sports has not been made at this time.
The Division III university said that it is working on developing models for certain intramural activities to continue this season.
On Wednesday, the Ivy League also ruled out all sports this fall and in doing so became the first Division I conference to cancel sports this season.
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