UTICA, NY – After months of consideration regarding possible options for safely engaging in athletics this fall, NAC presidents and athletic administrators have come to a difficult decision. It has become clear that in the best interest of student athletes, staff, and campus communities, a traditional NAC experience will not be possible this fall.

As such, there will be no conference contests or championships in any fall sport this coming semester, Fall 2020. NAC fall sports include men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s soccer, women’s tennis, men’s golf, and women’s volleyball.

The conference office and institutional leaders continue to support each other in providing a meaningful and fulfilling student athlete experience.

“This is a difficult day for NAC students, coaches and staff,” said Commissioner Marcella Zalot. “I want to thank the athletics administrators and leadership at each institution for their efforts to try and play a NAC fall season. What we wished we could do and ultimately what we are able to do are just in two different places right now. I look forward to the day when the resilience and perseverance of this generation of students prevails and they are rewarded with the thrill and camaraderie of NAC competition.”

Importantly, each member school may choose to safely conduct athletics at their own discretion. Activities are not limited by the conference, and may include practices, strength and conditioning, inter-squad events, and intercollegiate contests where safe to do so. Collectively, the conference will continue to explore the practicality of conducting fall sport activities in the spring semester if that becomes an option. 

SUNY Poly Athletics Update

SUNY Poly prioritizes the health and well-being of our entire campus community. Wildcat Athletics has decided not to engage in intercollegiate competition with other teams this fall. The institution will, however, consider providing practice opportunities and other team-related activities following NCAA guidelines if feasible and health and safety conditions permit. More details will be forthcoming.

“SUNY Poly is proud of our Wildcat athletes and to be a part of the North Atlantic Conference. We understand the difficult, but necessary, choice to pause fall sports,” said SUNY Poly Interim President Dr. Grace Wang. “While incredibly disappointing for our Wildcat athletes, this decision not only prioritizes their health and safety, but also that of our faculty, staff, and students, as well as the larger communities in which we typically compete. We look forward to safely resuming competitive athletics as soon as it is safe to do so.”

"This is a very painful decision for our Wildcat student athletes and their families, along with our coaches, athletics staff, and college community," said Kevin Grimmer, Director of Athletics. "The Wildcat Athletics program is a source of great pride for our institution, and we will come back stronger as soon as we are safely able.”

NCAA Division III recently announced that student athletes whose teams compete in 50% or less of the sport’s maximum contests or dates of competition during the upcoming year will not be charged with a season of participation. Similarly, eligible student athletes who don’t compete, or compete in a limited fashion, will not be charged with semesters of enrollment. Put simply, student athletes may practice and compete this coming year without compromising a year of eligibility.

Decisions on spring and winter sports will follow, along with potential plans for fall sports to compete in the spring.

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About SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly)
SUNY Poly is New York’s globally recognized, high-tech educational ecosystem. SUNY Poly offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in the emerging disciplines of nanoscience and nanoengineering, as well as cutting-edge nanobioscience programs at its Albany campus, and undergraduate and graduate degrees in technology, including engineering, cybersecurity, computer science, and the engineering technologies; professional studies, including business, communication, and nursing; and arts and sciences, including natural sciences, mathematics, humanities, and social sciences at its Utica campus; thriving athletic, recreational, and cultural programs, events, and activities complement the campus experience. As the world’s most advanced, university-driven research enterprise, SUNY Poly boasts billions of dollars in high-tech investments and hundreds of corporate partners since its inception. For information visit www.sunypoly.edu.
 

For Release:           Immediate – July 20, 2020
Contact:                   Steve Ference, Director of University Communications | (518) 429-7742 | sference@sunypoly.edu