Westminster College Announces Fall Sports Scheduling Changes
Fulton, MO ‒ July 30, 2020: The Department of Athletics at Westminster College announced today that Blue Jays football is moving to a Spring Semester 2021 schedule while maintaining a modified Fall Semester 2020 training schedule.
The announcement follows a press release issued this afternoon from the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) that it will not govern football this fall but will allow UMAC-affiliated teams to operate with modifications. Affiliated UMAC teams such as the Blue Jays will participate in team skill instruction, strength and training, practices, leadership development, and possible scrimmages this fall.
Matthew Mitchell, Director of Athletics at Westminster, anticipates the comprehensive fall program will lead to a strong Spring 2021 season. “We plan to work hard this fall, despite scheduling changes, and are looking forward to a busy spring,” he says.
Today’s announcement follows another fall sports scheduling notice on Monday from the St. Louis Intercollegiate Conference (SLIAC), which oversees all other Westminster sports. SLIAC-governed fall sports at Westminster include cross country, golf, soccer, tennis, and volleyball.
In a letter to Westminster students the same day, Mitchell summarized the SLIAC scheduling changes and reassured student-athletes that Blue Jays sports are continuing this fall, but in altered formats. He emphasized that most athletic conferences throughout the United States are doing the same as SLIAC.
“The Westminster Athletic Department is doing all it can to make sure our student-athletes have the safest athletic and academic experience possible this fall,” Mitchell explained.
He added that Westminster is carefully following guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, the Callaway County Health Department, and the American College Health Association.
The letter to students summarized all changes to fall sports, which are found on the Blue Jay’s sports website.
Mitchell also emphasized in the letter that the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is allowing soccer and volleyball to have a comprehensive, non-traditional fall season. As with football, these activities include individual and team skill instruction, strength and training, practices, leadership development, and possible scrimmages.
Mitchell’s letter ended hopefully, stating that the Blue Jays Athletics Department continues to look forward to the fall season and to seeing students on campus soon: Classes begin Aug. 12. He wrote, “As an institution, we are committed to working with our student-athletes to help them succeed.”
Westminster College is a member of the NCAA Division III and has sent 36 different teams to NCAA championships. More than 50 percent of its students participate in athletics.
Founded in 1851 and home of Winston Churchill’s “Iron Curtain” speech, Westminster College in Fulton, MO, is ranked prestigiously by U.S. News & World Report as a National Liberal Arts College. The institution is in the top 15 percent for graduate earnings and boasts a 98 percent placement rate. Westminster also is a Forbes Best Value College. Westminster focuses on educating and inspiring students to find the power in their purpose in order to become the world leaders of tomorrow.
To find out more about Westminster, visit our website.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Sarah Backer at 573-220-9038 or Sarah.Backer@wcmo.edu.
###
