Daily Freeman (Kingston, NY)

NJCAA cancels spring sports season

- Freeman staff

The NJCAA, which oversees all two-year colleges including SUNY Ulster, is canceling the spring sports season.

The NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Associatio­n), which oversees all two-year colleges including SUNY Ulster, announced Monday that it is canceling the spring sports season.

The decision comes on the heels of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommenda­tion of canceling events of 50 or more people for the next eight weeks to fight the coronaviru­s pandemic.

“In light of the progressiv­e [evolution] of the COVID-19 situation, the NJCAA has decided to end all competitio­n for the remainder of the academic year,” NJCAA President and CEO Dr.

Christophe­r Parker said in a statement.

“As an associatio­n, the NJCAA exhausted all possible avenues to potentiall­y postpone competitio­n for both the upcoming basketball championsh­ips and spring sport competitio­n,” he said. “We believe following the recommenda­tions of the CDC is in the best interest of our member colleges and our student-athletes.”

The NCAA had canceled its spring sports last Thursday.

Ulster’s only spring sport is baseball. The Senators started their season at the end of February and had played 10 games, including a doublehead­er at Southern Maryland on March 11.

Ulster had suspended play on Thursday with the aim to start Region XV action on April 2.

“This is something that we have been preparing for, but hoped could have been avoided,” Ulster Director of Athletics and Assistant Dean of Students Matt Brennie said in a press release. “Obviously our first priority is to protect all community members within SUNY Ulster and that will continue to be so.

“I am looking forward to the day when we can get back to business and provide studentath­letes the opportunit­ies to be leaders again,” he added.

For local coverage related to the coronaviru­s, go to bit.ly/ DFCOVID19. For live updates, visit bit.ly/DFcovid19l­ive.

 ?? PROVIDED ?? The SUNY Ulster baseball team celebrates winning the 2019 Region XV championsh­ip.
PROVIDED The SUNY Ulster baseball team celebrates winning the 2019 Region XV championsh­ip.

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