#Div. III NESCAC the latest conference to cancel fall sports

The New England Small College Athletic Conference has canceled all fall sports for the upcoming school year, the conference announced Friday.

The presidents of all 11 schools released a joint statement, saying the new safety protocols on campus led them to their decision.

“In keeping with public health guidance, each of our institutions has put in place physical distancing protocols, limits on travel on and off campus, and limits on the size of on-campus gatherings,” the statement read. “Consistent with these policies, the NESCAC Presidents have decided unanimously, though with great reluctance, that NESCAC conference competition for fall sports must be canceled for fall 2020.”

Bowdoin College and Williams College, both of which are members of the NESCAC, had announced in June they were canceling their fall athletic seasons. Now, the rest of the conference has followed suit.

The decision comes just two days after The Ivy League announced it would not have any fall sports until at least January 1. The Big Ten conference announced on Thursday that all sports will play only conference games in the fall.

Michael Medvedev, a rising junior on the Williams College tennis team, believes that fall athletic competition plays an important role in student-athletes’ academic and athletic development. Still, the decision was expected.

“I do think, however, that this decision was something all us athletes were prepared for,” Medvedev told The Post. “It doesn’t come as a surprise. Honestly, it’s the most sensible decision. Canceling all sports, tournaments, and inter-collegiate travel ultimately protects the safety of others.

“The uncertainty surrounding the status of COVID-19 on college campuses renders it sensible to cancel sports as early as possible.”

According to the statement, the 11 schools agreed to modify certain conference rules, allowing athletes to organize practices and training sessions outside of their traditional seasons.