Liberty League, Ithaca College Announce Return to Spring Sporting activities Levels of competition
The Liberty League—of which Ithaca Higher education is a member—has introduced that the league’s Presidents Council has unanimously agreed on a approach for a return to athletics level of competition this spring. Under the strategy, Liberty League opposition will get started no earlier than the weekend of March 26, with competitors predominantly having position among the league member institutions. Ithaca College or university university student-athletes and staff staff will adhere to a arduous COVID-19 testing protocol in buy to ensure a healthier and secure atmosphere for competition.
“The Liberty League will shift forward with cautious optimism as we seem to present aggressive possibilities for our pupil-athletes,” reported league commissioner Tracy King. “Whilst COVID-19 an infection fees have been declining both of those nationally and regionally, infectious variants pose a continued threat to our campus communities and our program for competitiveness. The health and security of our college student-athletes will keep on being our best priority as we resume Liberty League athletics level of competition on our campuses.”
Liberty League spring sports activities include baseball, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s rowing, softball, men’s and women’s tennis, and men’s and women’s out of doors keep track of and subject. Ithaca Higher education sponsors all of these with the exception of men’s golf.
The return to levels of competition is a milestone party for the league and IC, as the very last residence levels of competition on South Hill took area on March 7, 2020, and the closing party to be finished previous spring occurred on March 12—a softball doubleheader in Florida.
“This is truly a reward,” mentioned Associate Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreational Sporting activities Susan Bassett ’79. “Almost just one calendar year following athletics competitions ended up suspended, we are on the precipice of resuming, with all of the suitable modifications, security controls and limits demanded to make this possible. I want to thank President Collado, Vice President Ferro, Medical Director Dr. Ellyn Sellers-Selin and Director of Public Well being Crisis Preparedness Christina Moylan and the IC Health and fitness and Basic safety Committee for supporting the Bombers’ return to sport levels of competition.”
“I know how heartbreaking it has been for our scholar-athletes to be sidelined for so lengthy,” explained Ithaca Faculty President Shirley M. Collado. “As with all of the selections that the higher education has been earning over this previous yr, we carry on to prioritize the health and fitness and effectively-becoming of our campus and area communities. I extend my deepest appreciation to these who have been diligently, carefully, and creatively planning for this moment, and I share in the exhilaration of our scholar-athletes as they glimpse ahead to the prospect to when yet again join their teammates in competitors.”
“I could not be happier for our pupil-athletes and coaches,” claimed Vice President for College students Affairs and Campus Lifetime Rosanna Ferro. “I would like to thank President Collado, Director of Athletics Bassett, our overall health and wellness team and our peer institutions for the numerous hrs of perseverance it took to get to modern announcement. Our university student-athletes have been doing the job so tricky in anticipation for this working day to get there, and I wish them all the most effective of luck in the months and months to arrive.”
Just about every member establishment will contend in modified seasons, with minimized contests. Right away trips have been eliminated from scheduling, resulting in identical-working day travel for all situations. No outside the house spectators will be permitted at any contest and testing will be required prior to any competitors for all pupil-athletes and linked staff. Deal with coverings will also be mandated apart from throughout true competitors.
“Our scholar-athletes and coaches have been working toward this minute beneath extraordinary instances adhering to demanding protocols with self-control, attention to depth and perception of goal,” reported Bassett. “Their collective perseverance is inspirational. We know that our return and continuation is dependent on retaining COVID-19 below manage. We settle for this duty and will live up to the self confidence positioned in us.”
“Workforce Physician Dr. Andrew Getzin and Head Athletic Coach Mike Matheny have worked tirelessly to pursue the risk-free ‘Return to Sport’ for our a lot more than 750 college student-athletes,” Bassett continued. “Jointly, they have been main and facilitating this system as a most important concentrate considering that April 2020 as the CDC, NCAA and other governing bodies commenced to release recommendations, metrics and scientific studies. By means of the class of this earlier year, they investigated, drafted, redrafted, consulted colleagues, tailored and revised programs as new data became out there. They have remaining no stone unturned to make athletics participation risk-free and practical. We are deeply grateful to our sporting activities drugs team.”
Liberty League institutions are permitted to engage in level of competition versus non-league opponents as extensive as they adhere to the league’s COVID-19 return-to-enjoy protocols. League schedules will be posted on the net in the coming months but are subject to modify because of to the modifying COVID landscape.
“We also recognize the autonomy of our establishments to make decisions that are in the best pursuits of their campus communities, including decisions on spring athletics participation,” King included. “Although we system to go forward with Liberty League spring levels of competition and championships, we respect and support those people conclusions and understand that institutional procedures and situations may possibly dictate that universities decide out or suspend spring athletics opposition.”
Liberty League Presidents Council
Leon Botstein, Bard Higher education

Anthony G. Collins, Clarkson University

Joyce P. Jacobsen, Hobart and William Smith Schools

Shirley M. Collado, Ithaca College

Shirley Ann Jackson, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

David C. Munson, Rochester Institute of Engineering

Marc C. Conner, Skidmore School

William L. Fox, St. Lawrence University

David R. Harris, Union College or university

Sarah C. Mangelsdorf, College of Rochester

Elizabeth H. Bradley, Vassar Faculty
