HVCC cancels winter sports

Basketball, other teams dropped due to coronavirus

Hudson Valley Community College and 26 other members of the State University of New York Community Colleges have collectively decided to cancel the winter season for indoor sports that are considered “high risk” for COVID -19 exposure.

SUNY Schenectady, Fulton-montgomery Community College and SUNY Adirondack are among the schools canceling the sports, which include basketball, volleyball, wrestling, cheerleading and dance.

All are members of the National Junior College

Athletic Association.

HVCC will cancel its men’s and women’s basketball seasons and the women’s volleyball season.

Low- to moderate-risk sports, including bowling and swimming and diving, will be allowed in a virtual setting and are required to adhere to COVID -19 protocols.

“The decision made by community colleges is sound and the right decision for our student-athletes,” said Greg Truckenmiller, FMCC acting president. “We need to do everything we can to control the spread of the coronavirus and to preserve the health and safety of our student-athletes.”

Schools will be able to hold on-campus workouts and training in a “structured and monitored environment,” according to a joint statement.

Niagara County Community College and SUNY Erie (Buffalo) are not canceling high-risk sports and plan to compete in February.

“Going off the success we have seen with mitigating risk during the fall semester, we feel as if we can move forward in providing a safe and worthwhile opportunity for our student-athletes,” said NCCC athletic director Amanda Haseley.

An announcement regarding spring sports will be made in January. The NJCAA had already shifted most fall sports competition to spring 2021, with the exception of tennis and cross country.