NWAC pulls plug on spring sports ... NIC softball, golf seasons come to immediate end

NIC softball, golf seasons come to immediate end

The coronavirus has hit on every corner of the nation with all 50 states reporting cases during the pandemic.

Tuesday was the final strike.

The Northwest Athletic Conference canceled all spring sports competition on Tuesday afternoon, including the NWAC Championships, ending the softball and golf seasons at North Idaho College.

“It’s been just devastating for everyone,” said NIC interim softball coach Shay Fuson, whose team opened the season with 10 games in Florida from Feb. 28 to March 3. “For us, and the whole world, it’s been odd.”

The conference announced that spring sport athletes enrolled full-time in 2020 — regardless of the number of games they play in — will not lose eligibility for the 2021 season, should they opt to return.

NIC placed its athletic programs on a temporary ban last Friday, canceling games up to April 30. The previous NWAC suspension of play was to have lasted up to April 16.

The conference also announced the cancellation of track and field, baseball and tennis championships. NIC does not field teams in those sports.

“A lot of other schools in the NWAC are all quarter based, and haven’t started the spring semester yet,” said first-year NIC athletic director Bobby Lee, whose school started its spring semester on Jan. 13. “Some of them didn’t think they’ve have school on campus again this semester.”

NIC announced later Tuesday that classes will resume on campus today.

NIC played what turned out to be its final games of the season on March 10, sweeping Miles Community College of Miles City, Mont., at Post Falls High. The Cardinals, who won the last two NWAC softball tournament championships, finished 4-8.

“We didn’t have a lot of time together playing wise,” said Fuson, who played at NIC and later at NCAA Division II Adelphi University in Garden City, N.Y. “But I had a lot of time with them throughout the year and enjoyed every minute with them. I just wish I’d have more time with them. I feel horrible for all the athletes around the world, all the seniors (at four-year schools) and sophomores (at two-year schools) that might be done. It’s just devastating.”

“I feel terrible for the kids,” Lee said. “They’ve worked so hard to get prepared to play and get the season going, and it’s gone. You just feel bad for them.”

Northwest Athletic Conference scholarships cover 65% of tuition per semester, with some work study hours alloted in different sports. For example, players in the basketball program receive eight work study positions (out of 15 players) and members of the softball team (which has 17 players) have 11.

Discussions were ongoing for the eligibility for golf, which had its championship tournament May 17-18 at Apple Tree Golf Course in Yakima canceled.

NIC’s men had won the past three conference championships (2017, 2018, 2019). The Cardinals were scheduled to open their spring season this week at a tournament in Lewiston.

“Golf is a wrap-around sport, with seasons in the fall and spring,” Lee said. “We’re still discussing how to move forward with that.”