Following statement made by Cal State University Chancellor White about schools continuing virtual instruction during the 2020-21 school year, CCAA decides not to allow member institutions to participate in fall athletic competition until further notice

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

In the aftermath of Cal State University Chancellor Timothy P. White announcing Tuesday that 23 member schools will be holding mostly virtual instruction and online classes during the fall term of the 2020-21 school year, the California Collegiate Athletic Association – comprised of 12 NCAA Division 2 institutions – decided to suspend all fall sports, including cross country, in 2020.

In a statement released by CCAA Commissioner Mitch Cox and Chico State President Dr. Gayle Hutchinson – Chair on the CCAA Board of Presidents – the conference became the first to suspend athletic competition in the fall, after the NCAA canceled all winter postseason and championship events March 12, along with the entire spring athletic schedule as a result of the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic.

“With utmost consideration for the health and welfare of our students, coaches, staff, faculty and communities, CCAA member institutions have determined that NCAA sport competition will not occur during the fall of 2020,” the statement said. “The CCAA member institutions will continue to advocate strongly to maintain NCAA championship opportunities for all of our student-athletes, including our fall sports, during the 2020-21 academic year and recommend competition resume when it is safe and appropriate to do so for all of its members.”

In addition to Chico State, the CCAA member schools affected by this decision include: Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State Dominguez Hills, Cal State East Bay, Cal State Los Angeles, Cal State Monterey Bay, Cal State San Bernardino, Cal State San Marcos, Cal State Stanislaus, Humboldt State, San Francisco State and Sonoma State.

UC San Diego, a member of the conference since 2000, previously announced its decision to leave in July in order to join the Big West Conference and compete in NCAA Division 1.

The CCAA had five teams, including UC San Diego, qualify for the NCAA Division 2 men’s cross country final in November in Sacramento. Three CCAA women’s programs also competed at the championship meet.

Chico State was the top conference finisher at nationals in both genders, placing third in the men’s 10-kilometer race and seventh in the women’s 6-kilometer final. The Wildcats have won 18 consecutive CCAA men’s championships and 12 straight women’s conference titles.

Cal Poly Pomona was the last CCAA men’s program to win a Division 2 national cross country title in 1983.

No current CCAA women’s team has captured a national championship, although Cal Poly San Luis Obispo won 10 straight titles from 1982-91, before leaving for the Big West Conference and Division 1 in 1994.

The conference also stated that, “additional information regarding plans for athletics in fall and spring will be communicated as soon as it becomes available.”