Great North Atlantic Conference (GNAC) Commissioner Joe Walsh of Winthrop was involved in making a difficult decision this week affecting 3,000 college athletes and 13 schools.
After conferring with the GNAC Presidents’ Council, Walsh, whose offices are headquartered in Winthrop, announced that the GNAC has postponed the fall sports season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There will be no fall competition in the GNAC,†said Walsh.
The commissioner did say that GNAC member Saint Joseph of Maine may field fall sports teams, but Saint Joseph would only play against schools in Maine.
“They’re not going to cross out of state to play, and no schools are coming in because if you come into Maine, you have to quarantine for 14 days,†said Walsh.
The GNAC did approve a waiver to allow all fall sports teams to compete in the spring season. GNAC men’s and women’s soccer, women’s volleyball, women’s tennis, men’s golf, and field hockey teams will be able to move their seasons to the spring if they wish to do so.
Only two GNAC member schools, Anna Maria College and Dean College, play football, but their leagues have canceled their football seasons.
Walsh added that all NCAA Division 3 national championships have been postponed as well. Walsh is also a member of the NCAA Management Council.