PLU Athletics and NWC Update on Fall Sports

Dear Lutes and families,

The NWC, along with its member institutions, have been working diligently over the past several months to plan for the safe reopening of their campuses this fall while prioritizing the health and well-being of students, faculty, staff, and campus communities. With the start of the term less than two months away, we find COVID-19 infection rates and recovery from the pandemic moving in the wrong direction. With this information as the context for decision making about the fall sports season, the Northwest Conference has adjusted its plans for fall programs.

Today, the Northwest Conference Presidents’ Council announced the postponement of competition in the sports of football, men’s and women’s soccer, women’s rowing, and women’s volleyball for the fall of 2020, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Pacific Lutheran University, in conjunction with the NWC is working to develop a schedule for competition for these sports in the spring.

Men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s golf, and men’s and women’s tennis will be permitted to continue this fall in accordance with local, state, and federal health directives.

The NWC and PLU will continue to monitor changing federal, state, and local public-health guidance and consult with our NWC health-advisory group, the NCAA, and public-health officials as we look to make a decision on the upcoming winter season and beyond. We will provide updates as they become available.

“This decision, while surely difficult, is in the best interest of our student-athletes,” said PLU President Allan Belton. “I applaud the leaders of the Northwest Conference for putting their safety first, and I thank our student-athletes and coaches for their understanding and resilience. This fall, we’ll enjoy rooting for our cross country, golf, and tennis teams while looking forward to supporting our soccer, football, volleyball, and other affected teams this coming spring.”

(Read the full news release at GoLutes.com.)

We have plans to send out additional communications on Friday and next week with other updated academic year preparations, including travel-related quarantine guidance, fall planning for music and arts, CARES Act funding resources for students, and more. Please continue to look for updates on the COVID-19 website and to share your questions with us. We are navigating this period of time together and your questions help us to focus our energy on the things that matter most to you right now.

In community,

Joanna Royce-Davis
Vice President for Student Life

Jen Thomas
Interim Director of Athletics and Recreation