Brownwood News – The latest domino in the athletic world’s reaction to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic fell on Monday afternoon when the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), at the recommendation of its Board of Regents and the Presidential Advisory Board, announced it would be pushing back the start of many of its athletic seasons until 2021. The NJCAA Board of Regents voted overwhelmingly to delay the start of most of its athletic seasons in an effort to protect the health of student-athletes.

The most recent plan of action shifts all close-contact fall sports to the spring semester. These sports include football, men’s and women’s soccer and volleyball.

Locally, the decision has a huge impact on Eastland County’s two colleges. The start of the Cisco College Wranglers’ football season will be pushed back until March. Although the team will be allowed three scrimmages, the Wranglers will not open the season until March 25. Under the new plan, all teams will play a maximum of eight regular season games. The NJCAA championship game will be played June 3.

In soccer, the Cisco and Ranger programs will also see their seasons change. The two Region V men’s and women’s powers will compete in a maximum of up to 14 contests, beginning April 2. The 2021 season will run through May 24, with the championship tournament being held June 2.

The RC and CC volleyball teams will also be moved. The Lady Rangers and Lady Wranglers will begin practicing for the 2021 season on Jan. 11. The regular season will run from Jan. 29 through April 3. The regional tournament will be held on April 15-17.

“Our greatest focus is and always has been providing the best opportunities for our student-athletes,” said Dr. Christopher Parker, NJCAA President and CEO. “Through a unified effort from our Presidential Advisory Council, the Board of Regents, and leadership staff, our most recent plan of action provides a path that keeps our student-athletes competing at the highest level with proper safety measures in place. As we move forward as an association, we will continue to provide opportunities for our student-athletes, coaches, and all those involved with the NJCAA to be safe and successful.”

The changes, though inconvenient, are the right moves to make, according to Ranger College President William J. Campion.

“We have no control over this terrible virus,” said Campion following the NJCAA’s announcement. “It has afflicted tens of thousands of people and caused us to take a long look at what is best for our student-athletes. I think this is the best we can hope for.”

Region V Board of Regent representative Stan Feaster said the NJCAA’s decision to push back seasons was one that no one took lightly, but that, ultimately, the overall concern for the student’s safety outweighed the need to begin seasons.

“This has been a daunting task by the NJCAA national office,” he said. “This affects 45 states and all 24 NJCAA regions, but during these uncertain times I think this is the best possible plan moving forward. We are just pleased that our student-athletes will still have the opportunity to continue their careers and compete for a national championship. It just may come at a little different time of the year for some.”

All winter sports competition will begin in January with a majority of championship seasons moved from March to April. These sports include men’s and women’s basketball, wrestling, and swimming and diving. Men’s and women’s bowling and men’s and women’s indoor track and field will be held at the beginning of March.

While the NJCAA voted to move most fall sports to the spring, the NJCAA National Committee elected to continue to sponsor several sports this fall, including cross country, half-marathon, tennis and bowling.

Ranger College head cross country coach Kathy Graham said the decision to move forward with cross country was an understandable one by the NJCAA, especially since long-distance runners are not, for the most part, in close contact with other individuals.

“There are going to be some challenges that we will have to overcome, but I’m excited about moving forward,” she said.

The movement of seasons will create some additional headaches for coaches and players teams are forced to compete for practice and game time in share gymnasiums.

“It’s going to be interesting to see how it works out,” said Feaster, who also serves as the Region V Commissioner. “There is definitely going to be times when everyone wants to pull their hair out. The thing we have to remember is that we are here for the student-athletes and to do whatever we can to make sure they get the chance to play their respective sports.”