Washington and Lee University has canceled all athletic competitions from March 14 to April 18 as the coronavirus continues to spread globally and nationwide. 

According to an email sent by Sidney Evans, the vice president for student affairs and dean of students, “the safety of our community and the education of our students” was at the forefront of this decision.

This decision came after the NCAA released a statement canceling all winter and spring championships to “ensure the events do not contribute to spread of pandemic.” 

The women’s lacrosse team was one team whose season was cut short by the decision.

“We were incredibly excited about the prospects for our season,” Brooke O’Brien, the head coach of the women’s lacrosse team, said in an email. “That said, I trust in the difficult decisions being made by our athletic department and W&L’s senior administration.”

Conlan O’hara ‘20, a men’s lacrosse player agreed. 

“We all felt a little blindsided by that,” he said. “One never expects to have their senior season cut short.” 

Washington and Lee’s neighboring institutions, Virginia Military Institute and Southern Virginia University, have also decided to cancel all spring athletic competitions and practices.