MIAC Release | MIAC COVID-19 Resources | MIAC COVID-19 FAQs

ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – After months of waiting and wondering how the fall athletic seasons would look after spring was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, fall student-athletes at the College of Saint Benedict and around the Minnesota Collegiate Athletic Conference finally have their answer.
 
On Tuesday, the MIAC officially announced that the league's President's Council voted to postpone the 2020 fall athletic seasons for football, volleyball, cross country and soccer. Golf and tennis – which are considered low-risk sports by the NCAA – can compete against other MIAC schools and in compliance with state and local health and safety guidelines. MIAC President's Council Chair Paul Pribbenow cited the health and safety of not only athletes, but also coaches, referees and staff around the conference in the decision-making process.
 
"Our number one priority is the health and safety of students and staff," said Pribbenow, who is also the Augsburg University President. "The decision to postpone competition for many of our fall sports was very difficult, as we know how much our student-athletes want to compete and how important athletics are to each of our campuses, but we need to put ourselves in a position to return to play as safely as possible."
 
Conference officials will now begin work on developing spring schedules for football, volleyball, soccer and cross country, but a final decision will be made based on health and safety guidelines from the NCAA and the state. Golf and tennis teams are permitted to compete this fall against conference opponents in accordance with campus, state and NCAA Division III health directives.
 
At the time of Tuesday's announcement, the decision to postpone only affects the league's fall sports. A decision on winter sports will be made in the coming weeks. Though their seasons have been postponed, the Bennie volleyball, soccer and cross country teams can practice and train in accordance with NCAA Division III rules as well as health directives from the CDC, MDH and CSB officials.
 
"I was so looking forward to seeing our student athletes compete on the court, field and course this fall," CSB Interim President Laurie Hamen said. "My heart breaks for our fall sport athletes, coaches and their families as we continue to absorb mind boggling changes due to COVID-19. Still, I look forward to welcoming our student-athletes back to campus, and it is my hope to meet all of them at some point this fall so that we can support each other through this loss. I know Bennies are courageous and our student-athletes resilient, and I look forward to the roaring comeback as soon as we can safely do so."
 
More details and information regarding the MIAC's Return-to-Athletics plan, as well as decisions surrounding winter sports, will be released by the league in the coming weeks. All CSB student-athletes will return to campus with the rest of the student body Aug. 27-30. The Bennie golf and tennis schedules will be released in mid-August.
 
Read the MIAC release in its entirety here.