GNAC ANNOUNCES SPRING RETURN TO PLAY

PAXTON, MA: With the health and well-being of student-athletes and campus communities remaining the top priority, the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Presidents' Council has voted to authorize limited conference play for spring sports. Due to varying state-by-state guidelines and because the GNAC's 13 core members represent all six New England states. Schools shall retain the autonomy to opt out altogether or schedule local non-conference competition as they see fit. Finalized schedules are not yet public, and league administrators will evaluate opportunities for postseason play throughout the season.

The GNAC will sponsor conference play in baseball, men's lacrosse, women's lacrosse, and softball, with an intended start date for mid-March. All testing and safety procedures for conference play will meet or exceed NCAA recommendations outlined by the NCAA Sport Science Institute. Games will be conducted under an agreed-upon set of protocols, including the stipulation that spectators will not be allowed.

“We are excited for the student-athletes and coaches of Anna Maria College and the GNAC. Last spring, the student-athletes had their season abruptly ended due to the COVID-19 pandemic”, commented Joseph Brady ’96 Director of Athletics. “Our student-athletes, coaches, and athletic staff members have remained vigilant in their work each day to adhere to our health and safety protocols in hopes to compete and represent Anna Maria this spring. It is with that same diligence that we will start the spring sports season.”

Anna Maria College and the athletic department continue to have robust testing and safety guidelines and are committed to adhere to all additional testing and safety guidelines established by the GNAC and the NCAA. Our utmost priority is to ensure a healthy and safe environment for competition this spring to allow our teams to play as much of a season as possible.

The GNAC will also allow member institutions to engage in contests against other non-conference schools that are adhering to the same health and safety protocols.

We will continue to work closely with our Sports Medicine and Health Services staff to carefully monitor for the spread of COVID-19 to minimize the impact on our campus and community.

“Last spring was a difficult time for our student-athletes. I am looking forward to our spring athletes competing again. I am grateful to President Mary Lou Retelle, numerous departments throughout the campus along with our Sports Medicine staff, Health Services staff, coaches, and athletic department staff for making this possible,” Brady commented.

In addition to our spring teams returning to competition, some of our fall teams will participate in limited competition against local schools adhering to strict health and safety protocols.

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