[Wsssc] FW: [EXTERNAL]Spring Sports Update

Mon Mar 16 18:39:40 PDT 2020

Please disregard my earlier message for now.

Thanks,

Chio

From: Azurdia, Marco <MAzurdia at clark.edu<mailto:MAzurdia at clark.edu>>
Sent: Monday, March 16, 2020 5:51 PM
To: Alison Crumb, PenC <acrumb at pencol.edu<mailto:acrumb at pencol.edu>>; Andy Ward, TVCC <award at tvcc.cc<mailto:award at tvcc.cc>>; Ashley Dupler (adupler at spscc.edu<mailto:adupler at spscc.edu>) <adupler at spscc.edu<mailto:adupler at spscc.edu>>; Aveena Singh <asingh at socc.edu<mailto:asingh at socc.edu>>; Barry Janusch, OC <bjanusch at olympic.edu<mailto:bjanusch at olympic.edu>>; Bob Peters, CenC <Bob.peters at centralia.edu<mailto:Bob.peters at centralia.edu>>; Bobbi Hazeltine, WWCC <bobbi.hazeltine at wwcc.edu<mailto:bobbi.hazeltine at wwcc.edu>>; Bobby Lee, NIC <relee at nic.edu<mailto:relee at nic.edu>>; Brad Baker, BMCC <bbaker at bluecc.edu<mailto:bbaker at bluecc.edu>>; Brad Barbarick, PCC <brad.barbarick at pcc.edu<mailto:brad.barbarick at pcc.edu>>; Brian McLennon, DC <mclennonb at douglascollege.ca<mailto:mclennonb at douglascollege.ca>>; Brian Murphy, SVC <Brian.Murphy at skagit.edu<mailto:Brian.Murphy at skagit.edu>>; Bryan Donohue, MHCC <Bryan.Donohue at mhcc.edu<mailto:Bryan.Donohue at mhcc.edu>>; Cassie Belmodis, ChCC <cassie.belmodis at chemeketa.edu<mailto:cassie.belmodis at chemeketa.edu>>; Charlene Rios <charlener at bigbend.edu<mailto:charlener at bigbend.edu>>; Cheryl Batschi, PiC <cbatschi at pierce.ctc.edu<mailto:cbatschi at pierce.ctc.edu>>; Cheryl Holden, CBC <cholden at columbiabasin.edu<mailto:cholden at columbiabasin.edu>>; Christine Nelson, RCC <CANelson at roguecc.edu<mailto:CANelson at roguecc.edu>>; Craig Jackson <Craig.Jackson at umpqua.edu<mailto:Craig.Jackson at umpqua.edu>>; Danny Day, WCC <DDay at whatcom.edu<mailto:DDay at whatcom.edu>>; Darren Van Lehn,, RCC <dvanlehn at roguecc.edu<mailto:dvanlehn at roguecc.edu>>; David Abdherhalden, ChCC <David.Abderhalden at chemeketa.edu<mailto:David.Abderhalden at chemeketa.edu>>; Dawn McClendon, BMCC <dmcclendon at bluecc.edu<mailto:dmcclendon at bluecc.edu>>; Duncan Stevenson, PiC <dstevenson at pierce.ctc.edu<mailto:dstevenson at pierce.ctc.edu>>; Garet Studer, EVCC <gstuder at everettcc.edu<mailto:gstuder at everettcc.edu>>; Will Rider <william.rider at ghc.edu<mailto:william.rider at ghc.edu>>; Graydon Stanley at nic.edu<mailto:Stanley at nic.edu> <gastanley at nic.edu<mailto:gastanley at nic.edu>>; Greg Sheley, Lane <sheleyg at lanecc.edu<mailto:sheleyg at lanecc.edu>>; Jason Prenovost, TCC <jprenovost at tacomacc.edu<mailto:jprenovost at tacomacc.edu>>; Jayme Frazier, LBCC <fraziej at linnbenton.edu<mailto:fraziej at linnbenton.edu>>; Cox-garcia, Jaymie <jcox-garcia at olympic.edu<mailto:jcox-garcia at olympic.edu>>; Jeff Beha, WCC <jbeha at whatcom.edu<mailto:jbeha at whatcom.edu>>; Jeff Reinland, WWCC <jeffrey.reinland at wwcc.edu<mailto:jeffrey.reinland at wwcc.edu>>; Jenni Hull, CCS <Jenni.Rosselli-Hull at ccs.spokane.edu<mailto:Jenni.Rosselli-Hull at ccs.spokane.edu>>; Jennifer Alt, GHC <jennifer.alt at ghc.edu<mailto:jennifer.alt at ghc.edu>>; Jennifer Rhodes, EVCC <jrhodes at everettcc.edu<mailto:jrhodes at everettcc.edu>>; Jeremy Eggers <jeremy.eggers at bellevuecollege.edu<mailto:jeremy.eggers at bellevuecollege.edu>>; Jesscia Jones, RCC <jjones at roguecc.edu<mailto:jjones at roguecc.edu>>; Jim Martineau, ClCC <jmartineau at clackamas.edu<mailto:jmartineau at clackamas.edu>>; Jocelyn Lawrence <jocelyn.lawrence at bellevuecollege.edu<mailto:jocelyn.lawrence at bellevuecollege.edu>>; John Dunn, HCC <jdunn at highline.edu<mailto:jdunn at highline.edu>>; Kathie Woods at home <idig at aol.com<mailto:idig at aol.com>>; Kathie Woods, ClCC <Woodsk at clackamas.edu<mailto:Woodsk at clackamas.edu>>; Keilani Cruz, PiC <kcruz at pierce.ctc.edu<mailto:kcruz at pierce.ctc.edu>>; Kim Hyatt, MHCC <Kim.Hyatt at mhcc.edu<mailto:Kim.Hyatt at mhcc.edu>>; Kim Johansen, EdCC <kim.johansen at email.edcc.edu<mailto:kim.johansen at email.edcc.edu>>; Kirc Roland, LCC <kroland at lowercolumbia.edu<mailto:kroland at lowercolumbia.edu>>; LeMasters, Laura <LLemasters at clark.edu<mailto:LLemasters at clark.edu>>; Laura MacMillan, DC <macmillanl at douglascollege.ca<mailto:macmillanl at douglascollege.ca>>; Leslie Blackaby <lblackaby at yvcc.edu<mailto:lblackaby at yvcc.edu>>; Makoa Rosa <mrosa at greenriver.edu<mailto:mrosa at greenriver.edu>>; Mark Majeski (mark.majeski at linnbenton.edu<mailto:mark.majeski at linnbenton.edu>) <mark.majeski at linnbenton.edu<mailto:mark.majeski at linnbenton.edu>>; Mark Poth (markp at bigbend.edu<mailto:markp at bigbend.edu>) <markp at bigbend.edu<mailto:markp at bigbend.edu>>; Mark Yoshino, BC <mark.yoshino at bellevuecollege.edu<mailto:mark.yoshino at bellevuecollege.edu>>; Mary Ann Verigan, TVCC <mverigan at tvcc.cc<mailto:mverigan at tvcc.cc>>; Mary Schroeder, WCC <mschroeder at whatcom.edu<mailto:mschroeder at whatcom.edu>>; Melanie Norris, CBC <mnorris at columbiabasin.edu<mailto:mnorris at columbiabasin.edu>>; Michelle Butler, PCC <mlbutler at pcc.edu<mailto:mlbutler at pcc.edu>>; Mike Herbert, SOCC <mherbert at socc.edu<mailto:mherbert at socc.edu>>; Nancy Anderson <nancy.anderson at skagit.edu<mailto:nancy.anderson at skagit.edu>>; Rachel Goetz <rachel at lauramounter.com<mailto:rachel at lauramounter.com>>; Racquel West, ShCC <rawest at shoreline.edu<mailto:rawest at shoreline.edu>>; Ray Funk, YVCC <rfunk at yvcc.edu<mailto:rfunk at yvcc.edu>>; Rick Ross <rross at pencol.edu<mailto:rross at pencol.edu>>; Robert Cox (robert.cox at centralia.edu<mailto:robert.cox at centralia.edu>) <robert.cox at centralia.edu<mailto:robert.cox at centralia.edu>>; Rosa, Laura <lrosa at highline.edu<mailto:lrosa at highline.edu>>; Rusty Veth, RCC <rveth at roguecc.edu<mailto:rveth at roguecc.edu>>; Ryan Bodecker, <Ryan.Bodecker at ccs.spokane.edu<mailto:Ryan.Bodecker at ccs.spokane.edu>>; Scott Rogers, CBC <srogers at columbiabasin.edu<mailto:srogers at columbiabasin.edu>>; Shannon Percell <spercell at greenriver.edu<mailto:spercell at greenriver.edu>>; Shelley Bannish, CenC <Shelley.bannish at centralia.edu<mailto:Shelley.bannish at centralia.edu>>; Spencer Roland <sroland at columbiabasin.edu<mailto:sroland at columbiabasin.edu>>; Spencer Stark, EdCC <spencer.stark at email.edcc.edu<mailto:spencer.stark at email.edcc.edu>>; Steve Eskridge, Shcc <seskridge at shoreline.edu<mailto:seskridge at shoreline.edu>>; Traci Hilligoss, LCC <thilligoss at lowercolumbia.edu<mailto:thilligoss at lowercolumbia.edu>>; Tyrone White, PCC <tyrone.white at pcc.edu<mailto:tyrone.white at pcc.edu>>; Vernell Willlingham, SPSCC <vwillingham at spscc.edu<mailto:vwillingham at spscc.edu>>; Vierck, Kyle <kvierck at wvc.edu<mailto:kvierck at wvc.edu>>
Cc: Kori Ebenhack <kebenhack at roguecc.edu<mailto:kebenhack at roguecc.edu>>; Robert Cox (robert.cox at centralia.edu<mailto:robert.cox at centralia.edu>) <robert.cox at centralia.edu<mailto:robert.cox at centralia.edu>>; Scott, Patty (pscott at socc.edu<mailto:pscott at socc.edu>) <pscott at socc.edu<mailto:pscott at socc.edu>>; Jim Minkler <jim.minkler at ghc.edu<mailto:jim.minkler at ghc.edu>>; Swisher, Tracy <TSwisher at clark.edu<mailto:TSwisher at clark.edu>>; Hays, Donna <DHays at clark.edu<mailto:DHays at clark.edu>>; Paul Hoeye <paulhoeye at gmail.com<mailto:paulhoeye at gmail.com>>; Tomas Hiler <tomashiler at gmail.com<mailto:tomashiler at gmail.com>>; Rick Jaggars <jaggs27 at yahoo.com<mailto:jaggs27 at yahoo.com>>
Subject: [EXTERNAL]Spring Sports Update
Importance: High

Good evening commissioners:

Today I have met via conference calls with the North, South, and East commissioners to discuss potential next steps for the NWAC.  The West Commissioners and I will connect tomorrow morning, but late this afternoon West Commissioners were contacted to gather their input as well.  Discussions today centered on the legitimacy of schools participating after 4/24 and if the NWAC granted a year eligibility for Spring 2020 student-athletes, would schools also honor the athletic package that was awarded to those student-athletes?  I asked the commissioners to check if their schools will honor the athletic grant in aid that was awarded to the student-athlete this year for the following year.  We also talked about whether it was time to end the NWAC spring sport season.

Of the 30 D1 athletic conferences, 13 have canceled spring sports all together and the rest have suspended indefinitely.  4-year conferences in our geographic area, Cascade Collegiate Conference have canceled spring sports, GNAC and PNW have suspended spring sports indefinitely, and other organizations such as the NAIA, CCCAA, NJCAA have cancelled all spring sports.

Sometime during our conference calls this morning, President Trump announced that groups of 10 or more should not meet and that this issue could head into August.  All of the preceding information along with the three conference calls leads me to believe we need to act sooner than later.  The following are the next steps for NWAC:

The Northwest Athletic Conference has decided to cancel all spring sport practices, competition and NWAC Championship events, effective immediately. This is a decision that we do not take lightly but in consultation with the NWAC Executive Board, member colleges, and other conferences, NWAC believes it makes the most sense.  It is our desire to do our part to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus in the interest of the health and well-being of our student-athletes, school personnel, and our fans.  We have student-athletes who are having to make significant decisions in a short and crowded time space.

The NWAC will continue to work on the eligibility concerns that arise from this situation so that our student-athletes can make informed decisions regarding their future.  No spring sport student-athlete who was enrolled full-time in 2020 will be charged a season of competition in the NWAC.  Athletic department personnel are encouraged to meet with student-athletes to discuss academic and/athletic options that may be available.  We will be setting criteria for student-athletes who wish to get their year back to use in the NWAC and will continue to work with the NCAA with the hopes they will honor our efforts for our transfer student-athletes.  NWAC will be looking at items such as expanding roster sizes as well as language that speaks to additional scholarships and waivers.  This will take some time.  But by tomorrow we should have a committee formalized to begin putting together guidelines for us regarding the aforementioned items.   It is up to each individual member college to decide on how to handle the scholarship and waiver issues for their student-athletes.

I appreciate everyone's input and thoughts.  We have tried to be thoughtful in our decisions and as I have shared with a few parents who contacted me,  whatever is decided will be right in the eyes of some and wrong in the eyes of others.  Our concern is not about right and wrong, but about being thoughtful and trying to do what is best for approximately 4000 student-athletes.  Again, get with your coaches and your student-athletes as they need to hear it first from you.  We will post something on the website late tomorrow morning or by noon and we will work to update the FAQ.

The ride continues and we are not out of the woods yet.

Thank you.

Marco

Marco Azurdia
Executive Director
Northwest Athletic Conference
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