ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Midwest Conference released the following statement today:

"The Midwest Conference (MWC) Presidents Council announced today that it would not sponsor league competition, including championships, for fall and winter sports during the 2020-2021 academic year. The decision was unanimous and covers men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, football, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's swimming & diving, men's and women's indoor track & field, and volleyball."

"While we are disappointed that our fall and winter student athletes won't be able to compete in the traditional Midwest Conference schedule, the health and safety of our campuses remains the top priority of our institutions," said Zach Messitte, Ripon College president and chair of the MWC Presidents' Council. "We are hopeful that individual teams will continue to practice and, if appropriate, perhaps compete in some limited capacity in the months ahead."

Macalester's football team has competed in the Midwest Conference since 2014. In May, it was announced that the Scots will rejoin the MIAC for football in the fall of 2021. Today's announcement effectively ends Macalester's association with the Midwest Conference. The football program will continue to explore opportunities for competition in the spring of 2021.

The complete announcement from the Midwest Conference can be found here.