SUNY Cortland’s 2020-21 winter athletics season canceled

10/26/2020 

The presidents of the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC), taking caution to protect the health and safety of students and staff and after consulting with conference leadership, have made the difficult decision to cancel winter sports for the 2020-21 season.

The SUNYAC consists of 10 institutions — Brockport, Buffalo State, Cortland, Fredonia, Geneseo, New Paltz, Oneonta, Oswego, Plattsburgh and Potsdam. In addition, Morrisville State is an affiliate member of the league for men's ice hockey.

As a result of this announcement, Cortland's entire winter sports competition season has been canceled. Cortland's winter sports include: men's and women's basketball; men's and women's ice hockey; men's and women's swimming and diving; men's and women's indoor track and field; women's gymnastics; and wrestling. Three of those teams do not compete in the SUNYAC — women's ice hockey (Northeast Women's Hockey League), wrestling (Empire Collegiate Wrestling Conference) and women's gymnastics (National Collegiate Gymnastics Association) ­— but will still have their seasons canceled. (UPDATE: The NEWHL officially canceled its 2020-21 season on Oct. 23)

While no competition will be held, there is still hope that other team activities and practice sessions will be able to be conducted. Those decisions will be made as the fall semester winds down and the spring semester begins. No decision has been made yet regarding Cortland's spring athletic seasons.

"This was not an easy decision and I empathize with all of our student-athletes across the SUNYAC," said SUNY Cortland President Dr. Erik Bitterbaum, the chair of the SUNYAC Presidents. "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."