MAINE, USA — The New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) has canceled conference competition, including conference championships, for the 2020 spring season.
NESCAC members Bates College, Bowdoin College, and Colby College are all in Maine, and the eight other colleges in the conference will be affected by the decision. Bowdoin has already instructed all students not to return to campus after spring break.
The decision was the result of a meeting among the NESCAC presidents.
On NESCAC's website, the following message is posted:
"To the NESCAC athletic community:
The NESCAC presidents have been discussing COVID-19 on athletics, among many other issues our campuses are addressing as a result of the virus. The situation will continue to change and our decisions will be dictated by the facts as we understand them, the guidance we receive from federal and state public health and governmental authorities, and issues specific to each campus. Several schools in the conference have restricted travel to states that have declared a state of emergency, and it may be that more join them before long. The NESCAC presidents will continue to consult regularly and provide support to one another, with the primary concern being the health and well-being of our campus communities.
Biddy Martin, Amherst College
Clayton Spencer, Bates College
Clayton Rose, Bowdoin College
David Greene, Colby College
Katherine Bergeron, Connecticut College
David Wippman, Hamilton College
Laurie Patton, Middlebury College
Joanne Berger-Sweeney, Trinity College
Tony Monaco, Tufts University
Michael Roth, Wesleyan University
Maud Mandel, Williams College"
The Bates College women's lacrosse team is devastated by the announcement. The six seniors are especially disappointed.
