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“Two weeks of no games has put a damper on the conference season,” said Matthew Ten Haken of the MIAC’s executive offices. “We’ve had one day of play in ten days. It’s been a hassle ... April in Minnesota is unpredictable, but this has been the worst.”

With less than a month to go before the regular season’s end, and with finals approaching, teams are faced with trying to squeeze games into the remaining time.

Hamline baseball has had two scheduled doubleheaders postponed for a total of four games in all. Piper softball has even more games to make up. The weather knocked four dates off the schedule for softball, eight games total. Men’s tennis has been fortunate that only one match has been postponed, but the women’s team will have three matches to make up. Men’s and women’s track and field had to cancel the Hamline Invitational earlier this month and no make up date has been scheduled.

Some games have been cancelled, while others have been postponed. Due to the severe time constraint, some non-conference games will not be rescheduled for some sports. However, all conference games must be rescheduled and played out. Without completing the conference schedule, there can be no postseason. Finding time and energy to make up those conference games will be the challenge all coaches and players face.

“It’s going to be a lot of tennis,” said Hamline tennis coach Nathan Klonecki. “This puts our [remaining] matches back-to-back. [Hamline men’s and women’s tennis] will play four matches in five days.”

It will not be easy for athletes to finish the season and academic year. Athletes are not only trying to cram for finals but they are now cramming for the conference season. Everyone in the MIAC will be affected by the cancelations and postponements. All of the MIAC will experience the same scheduling conflicts as Piper athletics. “It’s stressful for the kids, but they’re handling it well,” said Klonecki.

“[The remainder of the conference schedule] is going to be a struggle. Teams will have to play three or four games a week,” said Ten Haken.

Whether or not a game or match is cancelled or postponed is the decision of university coaches and athletic directors. The MIAC allows the officials from the universities where an athletic event is being held to determine if a game can be played. Coaches and athletic directors are far more familiar with their fields, courts, and tracks than MIAC officials are.

Forecasts for the rest of the season look promising for athletics. Games and matches will be happening with increased frequency. With a little bit of sunshine and a little bit of sport, perhaps this extended case of cabin fever across the MIAC will be cured.