0 Photo Credit: UVI
The University of the Virgin Islands Athletics Department said Monday it has made the tough decision to cancel the remainder of the 2021-22 basketball season and the Spring 2022 season for track & field, citing the resurgence of Covid-19 cases across the United States and territories.
“The safety and health of our student athletes, coaches, and staff will always be our top priority,” said Dr. Jerel Drew, director of Athletics. “After careful consideration, we felt this would be the best decision given the current circumstances."
UVI, citing Johns Hopkins University data, said that an average of more than 750,000 new Covid-19 infections were reported every day over the past week. "This month, the U.S. reached a new pandemic high of Covid-19 hospitalizations while cases in the territory continue to spike," the university said.
Coronavirus cases in the U.S. Virgin Islands have been receding, with the V.I. Dept. of Health reporting Monday that cases dropped to 866 from a high of near 4,000 earlier this month.
UVI said the Covid-19 cases led its Athletics arm to the conclusion that "the risks of continuing sports in the spring were far too great for student-athletes and coaches."
According to the release, after canceling sports for the 2020-21 season, UVI Athletics returned in the Fall of 2021 with men’s and women’s basketball. With the latest announcement, the women’s basketball team finishes the 2021-22 season with an overall record of 7-4 led by Head Coach Niki Collins in her first year with the Buccaneers. Meanwhile, the men’s basketball team and Head Coach Alfonzo Duncan closes out the season with a 2-9 overall record. UVI Athletics is expected to return in the Fall of 2022.
