The Northwest Athletic Conference announced Tuesday it is canceling the 2020 spring sports season, putting an end to five spring sports at community colleges across the Northwest.
The decision was based on the ongoing impacts of the coronavirus and follows the lead of the NCAA canceling winter and spring sports championships, and other conferences canceling spring seasons.
“This is a decision that we do not take lightly,” the conference said in a news release, “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.”
At Clark College, the season comes to a halt for baseball, softball and men’s and women’s track and field. The Penguins baseball team started the season 7-0, and while fourth-year coach Mark Magdaleno said Tuesday he’s hurt for his players by their season abruptly ending, he knows what’s important in the bigger picture.
“I think about my guys and our program,” the coach said, “especially because we had such a good start and put a lot of hours recruiting this team and building this team with all the right parts. I feel bad for all the players and coaches affected by it from the Division I down.
“The pain, though it hurts, once you sit back and see what’s happening to our country and world, you know the decisions are the right decisions. …. Right now, we all play for Team USA.”
