Hawaii athletics: NCAA cancels spring sports championships; reactions from UH coaches, players; some tickets to be refunded
UPDATE: The NCAA officially canceled all spring sports championships, which appears to effectively end all seasonal University of Hawaii sports.
Most notably for UH, the Hawaii men’s volleyball team will be unable to try for a title a year after reaching the NCAA championship game. UH also had top-five-ranked teams in beach volleyball and women’s water polo.
NCAA cancels remaining winter and spring championships: https://t.co/qzKAS4McEI pic.twitter.com/G6XreZx35E
— NCAA (@NCAA) March 12, 2020
UH athletics issued a statement for ticket holders that “further information will be forthcoming.”
All UH athletic events are suspended effective immediately. pic.twitter.com/e4XjGlMqRf
— Hawaii Athletics (@HawaiiAthletics) March 12, 2020
UPDATE: UH said in a release, “All season ticket holders for baseball and men’s volleyball will receive a prorated refund for all impacted games at the end of the season. The UH Ticket Office will contact you with further information.” Also, single-game tickets purchased in the month of March may be refunded.
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Here’s a collection of social media updates of reactions from UH coaches and players.
"All of our hearts were breaking for all of our seniors. Those kids were almost inconsolable knowing that this is the way their career is going to end."
Rainbow Wahine basketball HC @LauraBeeman on the suspension of the Big West tournament. Her three seniors careers are over. pic.twitter.com/8HWsSHrskm
— Ren Clayton (@Ren_Clayton) March 12, 2020
— Drew Buggs (@stonecolddrew) March 12, 2020
Hurting for our team @HawaiiMBB After 22 years of college coaching, could never have imagined a season ending like this. Mahalo to our TEAM & 2 amazing SR’s, Eddie Stansberry & Zigmars Raimo. True #WARRIORS. Not the way it was supposed to end! 🙏🏼for all who have been affected.
— Chris Gerlufsen (@CoachCeeGee) March 12, 2020
Mahalo to Trevor and Nick for your 4 years of dedication to our program. Sorry it had to end this way. I feel for all the seniors out there who didn't get to end there careers the way they wanted. #caronasucks #gobows pic.twitter.com/EMQEbvrDSk
— Ronn Miyashiro (@UofHawaiiGolf) March 12, 2020
Wow. Today has an eerie feeling. I can only describe it similar to the days before, during and shortly after a major hurricane like Ike, Harvey that we went through in Houston. Real turmoil going on in our world. 🙏🏼
— Scotty Scott 🦅🤷🏼♂️ (@scottyscott_1) March 12, 2020
Video interview: Eran Ganot shares thoughts on the Big West cancellations | Hawaii Basketball https://t.co/Bje6ONuAxx
— Warrior Insider (@WarriorInsider) March 12, 2020
On the Big West Tourney being canceled, @HawaiiMBB senior Eddie Stansberry said: "The season's over, but the friendships go on forever." #HawaiiBSB #StarAdvertiser #HawaiiWarriorWorld
— Stephen Tsai (@StephenTsai) March 12, 2020
Mahalo for all the support this season. pic.twitter.com/cIG0ORUTM8
— Eran Ganot (@EranGanot) March 13, 2020
Heartbroken to say the least. Never thought my collegiate basketball career would end like this, but thankful for all this game has brought me. Thank you for all the love throughout my journey. I’ll leave it at this, “Fear does not stop death, it stops life.” #wahineforever 💓 https://t.co/Zrc5En516N
— Savannah Reier (@ReierSavannah) March 12, 2020
EARLIER:
Effective immediately, the Big West has suspended all spring competition in and out of conference play for its member schools, including Hawaii, because of the coronavirus threat.
That has brought to a halt to seasons for the Hawaii volleyball team, men’s and women’s basketball teams, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s tennis, women’s water polo, beach volleyball, softball and baseball teams.
It is unclear when they might resume, if at all, this season.
The Big West sent out the following statement at 8:37 a.m. HST:
“IRVINE, CA – The Big West Conference announced today that it is indefinitely suspending all spring conference and non-conference competition, effective immediately.
The main priority of the Big West Conference continues to be the health, safety and wellness of our student-athletes, coaches, administrators, fans and media as we continue to monitor all developing and relevant information on the COVID-19 virus.”
About an hour and a half before that release, the Big West announced the cancellations of just the Big west basketball tournaments. The Hawaii women’s basketball team had beaten Cal State Fullerton 72-59 the night before to reach Friday’s semifinals. The UH men were set to play UC Davis in the first round Thursday night.
I think Julissa Tago’s message says it all. Aloha to all the seniors everywhere, but especially to those who wore the “H.”
At this point, now I’m more worried with how the football team approaches for off-season training. I’m sure they’re probably going to have to find a different time to do their workouts close to the fall season possibly.
If the coronavirus situation doesn’t clear up before May, the fanbase will be groaning for all eternity. It’s even hard to anybody to wanting to do anything while waiting a long way for football and women’s volleyball seasons to start.
Sad for all the seniors! They should be allowed another year or half year of eligibility. Next years mens team has potential..watched highlight videos of recruit Biwali Bayles..looks promising! Hopefully Junior Madut can make an instant impact
Thank you, Samantha Reier. Classy move on your part, thanking the boosters. The women’s basketball program has a small, but loyal cult following. We’ll miss you. Take care.
Savannah. Sorry.
This site needs a cancel button.
Let’s have spring football practice.