The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) has cancelled its winter sports seasons for the 2020-21 academic year, the conference announced Monday.
The decision was made by the presidents of the conference's member schools out of "an abundance of caution to protect the health and safety of students and staff," according to the announcement release.
"This was not an easy decision and I empathize with all of our student-athletes across the SUNYAC," said Erik Bitterbaum, SUNYAC Presidents Council chair. "However, despite our best efforts to plan for a winter season, our priority must be the health and safety of everyone involved with intercollegiate athletics, and our campuses as a whole."
The winter sports offered by the SUNYAC includes men's and women's basketball, men's ice hockey, men's and women's swimming & diving, and men's and women's indoor track & field.
Within the NEWSChannel 2 viewing area, SUNY Oneonta winter teams and the SUNY Morrisville men's ice hockey team are among those impacted by the cancellation.
The SUNYAC said that it will continue to plan internally for the possibility of spring sports and that a decision on those seasons will be made at a later date.
