Amid positive COVID-19 cases in the program, No. 1 Wisconsin (10-0) will pause all team activities for 14 days. Among those team activities are four matches that the Badgers were scheduled to play.
“For the safety of our student-athletes, we are pausing all team activities,” head coach Kelly Sheffield said. “Our athletes are taking all necessary precautions to keep everyone in the program safe. We’re really looking forward to resuming team activities when appropriate.”
Wisconsin was scheduled to play No. 4 Nebraska (7-1) on Friday and Saturday, and Iowa (2-8) in two matches the following weekend. As a result of the COVID-19 cases in the Badgers program, these matches were postponed, said the Wisconsin Athletics department in a statement.
Nebraska is the highest ranked team that Wisconsin had on their schedule so far, and the second highest ranked Big Ten Conference team behind Wisconsin. The schools announced in statements Thursday that the matches were postponed.
“We are disappointed for our players and fans that we won’t be able to play this weekend but the health and safety of all of the players is what’s most important,” Sheffield said of the matches being postponed.
These are the first matches Wisconsin has had to postpone since the start of their modified spring season. Both Wisconsin, Nebraska and the Big Ten Conference will discuss options for rescheduling these matches, UW-Madison said in their statement.
"We are obviously disappointed that we won't get to compete at Wisconsin this weekend, but our players understand that the health and safety of everyone is most important," Nebraska head coach John Cook said Nebraska’s statement announcing the postponed games.
Wisconsin announced in a statement Thursday evening that all team activity for the next 14 days including their matches against Iowa were paused.
“Looking forward to getting back on the court when we’re able to,” Sheffield tweeted. “Truly appreciate our great medical team & our awesome supportive fans. I’m proud of how our team has conducted themselves & we’ll continue to make decisions that give us the best chance moving forward. See you soon!”
Wisconsin is scheduled to play Northwestern next, on March 14 and 15 at the UW Field House.
