WESTFIELD – Westfield State University will begin play for spring sports later this month, the school announced Friday in conjunction with the Council of Presidents of the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference.
“A spring season for our student athletes is very welcome news at Westfield State, where athletics are integral to our campus culture and student experience,” said Interim President Roy H. Saigo, PhD. “Our Westfield State Owls—the 2020 Smith Cup recipients—will be a force as safe and competitive intercollegiate play resumes for our teams.”
The Owls plan to hold intercollegiate competition in men’s and women’s track and field, women’s lacrosse, baseball, softball and men’s golf this spring.
“We are tremendously excited that our student-athletes will have the chance to return to the field of play,” said Westfield State Athletics director Richard Lenfest, Jr.
The pandemic cut seasons short exactly one year ago today, when the NCAA announced it was cancelling championships competition for 2020 due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
“It’s been a long year,” said Lenfest, who has also been tasked with managing the school’s coronavirus testing for the past nine months. “While all of our athletes have experienced disappointment as the pandemic has affected both the ability to conduct competitions and even practices, the announcement today is a win for Owls athletics. By getting back to the field of play this spring the athletes who had their seasons cut short a year ago will be the first ones to get back on the field, providing a sense of equity as it appears that no athlete or team would miss more than one season of competition due to the pandemic.”
“It’s important for our student-athletes, coaches and staff to stay vigilant as we return to play,” said Lenfest. “The university is providing COVID testing each week before the contests, which gives us the opportunity to play intercollegiate games, but both on and off the field, while traveling, and even in the residence halls and apartments, it is important to wear your mask, wash and sanitize your hands frequently, and maintain safe social distancing protocols.”
Per the decision of the MASCAC Council of Presidents, no spectators will be permitted at spring 2021 sport contests. Westfield State athletics plans to live video stream all of its home contests via WestfieldStateOwls.com, and the MASCAC.TV app for Roku and Apple TV streaming, and live stats for the games are also provided.
The spring sport schedules have been altered in conjunction with the presidents’ announcement. Updated schedules for the Owls’ spring sports teams will be posted shortly on WestfieldStateOwls.com. If weather or pandemic conditions force changes as the seasons progress, the online schedules are the first place to be updated accordingly.
Westfield’s traditional fall and winter sports teams will continue to have practice opportunities throughout the remainder of the spring semester, with plans to return to full completion in fall of 2021 pending public health conditions. – Courtesy of Westfield State University Sports
