The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo is postponing its PacWest fall season sports due to a unanimous decision made on July 23 by the Pacific West Conference Executive Board to suspend intercollegiate competition until after January 1, 2021. The action was taken due to rapidly changing information and guidelines from the NCAA, as well as the states, counties and areas where the 11 PacWest institutions compete.
PacWest fall sports include men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s soccer and women’s volleyball. Options for moving fall sport schedules into the winter/spring are being developed and reviewed.
“This was a very difficult, but well-thought-out decision and one that so many individuals worked together on over the past several weeks,” PacWest Commissioner Bob Hogue said. “We’re appreciative of everyone’s efforts and look forward to a time when we can all be safely out on the field of play again.”
While this decision postpones fall 2020 sports competition, institutions will still be allowed to conduct organized team activities at their own discretion including workouts, practices, strength and conditioning, and access to their athletic training staff, as local, county and state guidelines permit.
Vulcan Athletic Director Patrick Guillen shared a letter with UH Hilo student-athletes expressing his support of the PacWest decision.
“Our decision as a conference to postpone fall sports was one of the most gut-wrenching decisions that I have ever been a part of in college athletics,” Guillen wrote. “On one hand I realize and know how all of you have been preparing and planning for the upcoming season. On the other hand, your health and safety must guide us and be our top priority.”
