UWGB: Temporary Suspension of Intercollegiate Athletics

UW-Green Bay Campus executive officers respond to temporary suspension of intercollegiate athletics on Marinette, Manitowoc and Sheboygan campuses:

Green Bay, Wis.—In a joint decision earlier today, the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point announced, along with four other UW System institutions—UW-Eau Claire, UW-Green Bay, UW-Oshkosh and UW-Platteville—the temporary suspension of intercollegiate sports at their satellite campuses for the 2020-2021 academic year.

The one-year pause in sports reflects the additional challenges of facility cleaning and disinfecting, providing athletic trainers and other logistical issues posed by the current coronavirus pandemic. For UW-Green Bay, the announcement impacts the student-athletes on UW-Green Bay’s Marinette, Manitowoc and Sheboygan Campuses.

UW-Green Bay will continue to support the student-athletes on all three campuses, and the University expects to reinstate competitive athletics at those campuses in the future. Coaches and/or campus administrators have worked to communicate with all student-athletes prior to the public announcement, today.

Statement from Cindy Bailey, UW-Green Bay, Marinette Campus CEO:

“At the Marinette Campus, we understand the importance of our campus athletic program. We know how athletics enhances student life and involvement, and we know what the program brings to the Marinette community. For years the Marinette Campus has produced quality athletic programs where our athletes have learned valuable and practical skills on and off of the court. Just last season, our talented volleyball team won the WCC state championship! Not only have our athletes excelled on the court over the years, but also in the classroom. The experience on the court helps to enrich their entire college experience. Our primary focus during this time is the health and safety of our students and of our coaching staff. Athletes will still be able to use our campus facilities for training and practice to gear-up for what we hope will be a robust fall 2021 season. We are grateful for the role athletics has played with our institution and look forward to coming back strong for the fall 2021 season.”

Statement from Jamie Schramm, CEO, UW-Green Bay, Sheboygan and Manitowoc Campuses:

“With today’s announcement regarding the suspension of athletics within the Wisconsin Collegiate Conference, our University campuses have demonstrated that the safety of our athletes, students, coaches, staff and their families is our top priority. The importance of these athletic programs to our campuses and the support of our communities makes this decision difficult, but necessary. I personally want to thank our student-athletes, coaches and staff for their hard work and dedication. Additionally, our fans, many who are alumni are an important link between our community and campus.

It is noteworthy that our University of Wisconsin-Green Bay campuses are working towards a solution for athletic programming in Fall 2021. We look forward to continuing to support our student athletes with their educational goals, and engaging our communities to ensure we are supporting workforce development and regional vitality. We look forward to the day when we can once again see our student-athletes in a competitive environment and I personally look forward to cheering on our campus teams here in the Sheboygan and Manitowoc communities.”

The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay is a comprehensive public institution offering undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs to more than 8,000 students with campus locations in Green Bay, Marinette, Manitowoc and Sheboygan. Established in 1965 on the border of Green Bay, the University and its campuses are centers of cultural enrichment, innovation and learning.