Northern State University Athletics

On March 11, 2020, NCAA President Mark Emmert and the Board of Governors canceled the Division I men's and women's 2020 basketball tournaments, as well as all remaining winter and spring NCAA championships. This decision was based on the evolving COVID-19 public health threat, to ensure the events do not contribute to spread of the pandemic, and the impracticality of hosting such events at any time during the academic year given ongoing decisions by other entities. Click HERE for the full statement. At the time of the announcement the Northern State men's basketball team was set to face Missouri Southern in the opening round of the NCAA Central Region Tournament, Walker Carr (157) was going to make his debut at the NCAA National Wrestling Championships, and Tanner Berg (weight throw), Kealy Hill (pole vault), and Bryce Malsam (heptathlon) were set to compete at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships. 

Following the NCAA announcement, the NSIC released on March 12 that all all athletic activities for each of its 16-member institutions were suspended. All NSIC contests were suspended immediately, while any non-conference competitions already travelled were left to institutional discretion up to March 16, at which time all athletic activities ceased.

The league went even further and on March 15 and it's Board of Directors voted unanimously to suspend all activities related to intercollegiate athletics and cancel the remaining 2020 spring conference competition and championships due to concerns of the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The continued suspension of all countable athletically related activities (CARA) for all 18 NSIC sports remained in effect. The health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and fans is our top priority. It is our responsibility to take these unprecedented actions to address this public-health crisis. This mandate specifically affected the 2020 spring seasons for the softball, baseball, and track and field teams.