SYRACUSE, NY – The State University of New York Athletic Conference – a premier NCAA Division III conference – has added two new full-time member institutions, designated men's wrestling as its 22nd sport, and added five associate members that will compete in five different sports.
The announcement was made on Thursday, Oct. 5, by Commissioner Tom DiCamillo following approval by the SUNYAC Presidents Council.
SUNY Canton and SUNY Morrisville will join the SUNYAC as full-time members beginning in 2024-25, while Alfred State has been accepted as an associate member in the sports of men's and women's indoor and outdoor track & field - also beginning next year.
With the SUNYAC adding men's wrestling to its roster of NCAA Division III sponsored sports, the conference has accepted Ithaca, RIT, St. John Fisher and Utica as associate members that will join Brockport, Cortland, Oneonta and Oswego to form an eight-team league under the SUNYAC umbrella. Wrestling competition will commence immediately for the 2023-24 season.
"We are thrilled that SUNY Morrisville and SUNY Canton have accepted our invitation to become full-time members of the SUNYAC," Alberto Cardelle, the president of SUNY Oneonta and chair of the SUNYAC Presidents Council, stated. "And we are excited about the creation of our eight-team wrestling conference with associate members Ithaca, RIT, St. John Fisher and Utica, as well as the addition of Alfred State that strengthens our indoor and outdoor track & field championships."
As a SUNY institution with more than 10 years of history as an affiliate member, Morrisville joining the SUNYAC was a natural fit for the conference.
"Seventy-five years ago, Morrisville joined together with colleagues across the state to establish a new SUNY system of higher education," Dr. David Rogers, president of SUNY Morrisville, said. "SUNY Morrisville is now delighted to be joining the SUNYAC which is known for its quality of play and its commitment to high standards and excellence. During our many years as an associate member, our students have benefitted from this rich history and success and we look forward to participating as a full member."
Matt Grawrock, director of athletics at SUNY Morrisville, agreed.
"We are ecstatic about joining the SUNYAC - one of the premier NCAA Division III conferences in the country," Grawrock stated. "We have been a longtime associate member and when this opportunity to join the SUNYAC full-time presented itself, it was an invitation we could not refuse. SUNY Morrisville's mission, athletic programs and location align with our sister institutions in the SUNYAC and we are excited about the opportunities that await our student-athletes, our coaches and our college starting next year."
DiCamillo echoed Grawrock's comments.
"We are excited that SUNY Morrisville will be joining the SUNYAC family as a full-time member in 2024-25," the commissioner said. "As an associate member in the sports of men's and women's ice hockey, as well as field hockey, it was a natural progression for the Mustang athletic program to become a full-time member of the SUNYAC. Morrisville's array of athletic teams complements the sports offered by the SUNYAC, while its geographic location is advantageous for most member institutions."
Morrisville will compete in 15 of the SUNYAC's 22 conference championship sports, including men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's ice hockey, men's and women's lacrosse, and men's and women's soccer. In addition, the Mustangs will participate in field hockey, softball, women's indoor and outdoor track & field, and women's volleyball.
SUNY Canton became an associate member in the sport of women's ice hockey this year, while its men's ice hockey program had been previously accepted as an associate member beginning in 2024-25. Now the entire Roos athletic program will join its neighbors in the North Country – Potsdam and Plattsburgh – as members of the SUNYAC.
"We are honored to be joining such a prestigious conference with a tremendous history and reputation of athletic and academic success," SUNY Canton President Dr. Zvi Szafran said. "This represents a great opportunity for our institution, our athletic department, our teams and our students. Thank you to our fellow SUNY schools who have welcomed us to the conference."
Director of Athletics Randy Sieminski mirrored his president's comments.
"This is a big step for SUNY Canton and our teams," Sieminski said. "We feel our core values and mission align well with our fellow SUNYAC schools. Having all of our conference games in-state will help reduce travel times and travel costs as well as allow our student-athletes more time off the bus and in the classroom. We are looking forward to competing in the SUNYAC next year."
Canton will compete in 13 of the SUNYAC's 22 conference championship sports, including baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's ice hockey, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, softball and women's volleyball.
"SUNY Canton provides a strong athletic program with proven leadership in the geographic footprint of the North Country that is a tremendous fit for many of our current member institutions," DiCamillo said. "Like Morrisville, inviting Canton to move from associate membership in two sports to a full-time member of the conference was a natural step for its competitive and growing athletic programs."
Alfred State Director of Athletics Jason Doviak is excited about his men's and women's track & field programs finding a home in the state of New York that will allow competition against other SUNY institutions for a league championship.
"Alfred State College is grateful for the opportunity to join the SUNYAC for indoor and outdoor track & field," Doviak said. "This completes our longstanding goal to provide conference championship opportunities for all of our athletic programs and student-athletes. We look forward to competing against our fellow SUNY institutions and appreciate the support of the SUNYAC Presidents, athletic directors and the commissioner."
The Pioneers will compete in their first conference championship in February of 2025 when they participate in the SUNYAC Indoor Track Championships.
After absorbing the Northeast Women's Hockey League and making women's ice hockey its 21st sport this past summer, the SUNYAC will sponsor men's wrestling as its 22nd sport beginning this month after establishing an eight-team league from the remnants of the Empire Collegiate Wrestling Conference.
SUNYAC-member institutions Brockport, Cortland, Oneonta and Oswego – all former members of the ECWC – moved their programs under the SUNYAC banner and developed a conference championship that will be held in November of this year at RIT. Ithaca, RIT, St. John Fisher and Utica are four private institutions who were members of the ECWC as well with all four institutions accepting invitations to join the SUNYAC.
"Utica University is excited to be accepted as an associate member of the SUNYAC for men's wrestling and be aligned with such outstanding institutions," David Fontaine, the director of athletics at Utica, stated. "We look forward to the exceptional competition this will afford our men's wrestlers."
Bob Ward, director of athletics at St. John Fisher, agreed with Fontaine's comments.
"St. John Fisher University is thrilled to be a member of the SUNYAC wrestling conference. We have so many wonderful relationships with the SUNYAC already that this affiliation will build on those partnerships."
Susan Bassett, the director of athletics at Ithaca, is pleased that most of the former ECWC teams will continue their traditional rivalries in the SUNYAC.
"Ithaca College is grateful that our wrestling program has found a home with the SUNYAC to assure a strong affiliation and sustain competition that the former ECWC provided," Bassett said. "Thank you to Commissioner Tom DiCamillo for providing the leadership to make this happen. We look forward to working with everyone on behalf of our wrestling student-athletes."
Jackie Nicholson, the executive director of intercollegiate athletics at RIT, welcomes the challenge of competing in the SUNYAC in the sport of men's wrestling.
"RIT is excited for the opportunity to join the SUNYAC Conference as an associate member in wrestling," Nicholson said. "As we step onto the mat this year and embrace the challenge, joining the SUNYAC is more than a partnership; it's a commitment to resilience, sportsmanship, and the pursuit of excellence in the sport of wrestling. We are thankful for the leadership of Commissioner DiCamillo and look forward to kicking off the new season under his guidance."
Now in its 65th season of athletic competition, the SUNYAC is one of the strongest and most vibrant conferences in all of NCAA Division III that features 22 league championships and nearly 5,000 student athletes.
