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| St. Mary's (Md.) athletics photo by Bill Wood |
The North Eastern Athletic Conference has announced that St. Mary’s (Md.) will join the conference beginning in the 2021-22 academic year. The addition of the Seahawks will bring the NEAC to nine core members in 2021-22.
“We are excited to welcome St. Mary’s College to the NEAC as a full member beginning Fall 2021. Throughout the application process, it was evident that St. Mary’s College of Maryland is dedicated to providing its student-athletes with a well-rounded, high-quality Division III experience. We felt strongly that the ideals of St. Mary’s College and their vision for the future aligned with that of our membership. The addition also allows our league to solidify a southern anchor with Gallaudet University and we are confident St. Mary’s will play a key role in our continued efforts to elevate the profile of the NEAC,” said NEAC Interim Commissioner Stephanie Dutton.
St. Mary's is the second Capital Athletic Conference school in as many days to announce its departure, following Southern Virginia's announcement it was leaving for the USA South. The departures will leave the CAC with just three schools in the fall of 2021: Christopher Newport, Mary Washington and Salisbury. York (Pa.) is leaving for the MAC Commonwealth in the fall of 2020.
The NEAC’s Presidents’ Council and Board of Athletic Directors voted unanimously to approve the application for conference membership from St. Mary’s College. The Seahawks will join core members Gallaudet, Lancaster Bible, Penn College, Penn State-Abington, Penn State-Berks, Penn State-Harrisburg, SUNY Morrisville, and Wells in 2021-22.
“I am excited about this opportunity and believe our high-quality student-athletes will make an exceptional addition to the league,” said Tuajuanda C. Jordan, president of St. Mary’s College. Academically, we will be among the strongest schools in the conference. Athletically, our student-athletes will be in the upper echelon of the majority of the sports we play. And, philosophically, the schools align very well with the core values of our athletics department: excellence, humility, legacy, teamwork, and integrity.”
Penn College president and NEAC Presidents’ Council chair Davie Gilmour said, “The NEAC is very pleased to have St. Mary’s College of Maryland join our conference. The College’s level of dedication from Dr. Jordan and the athletics staff combined with the strong focus on the student-athlete and the values of Division III athletics make them an ideal member for us.”
“They will bring new competition, expand our ability to be innovative and contribute to our quest to be a national leader among Division III conferences.”
“St. Mary’s College looks forward to renewing rivalries with schools such as Gallaudet University and Penn State Harrisburg and forging new rivalries with additional schools in the conference,” said Scott Devine, director of athletics and recreation at St. Mary’s College. “This is the beginning of a new and exciting chapter for Seahawk athletics.”
Joining the NEAC will allow St. Mary’s student-athletes to continue to compete for conference championships and automatic bids into the NCAA Tournament, while expanding the geographic footprint of the St. Mary’s athletics’ program into new areas. The Seahawks will compete in 15 of the NEAC’s 18 sports.
Dutton added, “I’d like to thank Dr. Tuajuanda Jordan, Scott Devine, Jim Cranmer and the entire athletics staff for their sincere commitment throughout the membership process. We look forward to a future that includes St. Mary’s College and are eager to begin collaborating with the Seahawks staff as we continue to chart a new course for the NEAC.”