Cross country, soccer, tennis, women’s volleyball set to start 65th year of intercollegiate athletics
GOSHEN, Ind. — Goshen College will welcome its fall student-athletes back to campus on Friday, Aug. 7 to compete in men’s and women’s cross country, soccer and tennis, along with women’s volleyball, beginning its 65th year of varsity intercollegiate athletics.
Following the NAIA’s announcement of a revised fall sports calendar earlier this month, the first official day of practice will be Saturday, Aug. 15. Until that date, teams will conduct conditioning and other off-the-field activities under the direction of GC’s fall head coaches.
The new NAIA calendar permits regular-season play to begin on Saturday, Sept. 5. Due to the shortened fall season, the cross country, soccer and women’s volleyball seasons have been pared back to approximately 80 percent of their original lengths.
The Crossroads League, of which Goshen College is a member, is expected to issue temporary health and safety recommendations for the 2020-21 academic year later this month. The Maple Leafs will then release more information about the upcoming season.
“The health and safety of our student-athletes is our top priority,” said Dr. Erica Albertin, interim athletic director and head athletic trainer. “We look forward to having our teams back on campus and are working closely with campus leaders on COVID safety measures. We plan to continue to build leaders in the classrooms, the community, and in competition.”
More than 110 fall student-athletes are slated to converge on Goshen’s 135-acre campus. The college’s 126th fall semester will begin on Tuesday, Aug. 18, with winter and spring student-athletes joining the broader student population in returning to classes at that time. As part of their return to campus, all student-athletes will complete a short orientation on COVID-19 training and residence hall expectations.
In order to return to campus and begin the preseason with their teams, student-athletes are required to complete their pre-participation forms for athletic training and sports information by Aug. 1.
Please reach out to Dr. Erica Albertin or Rustin Nyce, interim athletic leaders, with any questions.
Goshen College is an affordable, nationally-ranked Christian liberal arts college in Northern Indiana known for leadership in intercultural and international education, sustainability and social justice.