Colleges: Empire 8 Conference gives go-ahead for spring sports

Keuka College and the Empire 8 Athletic Conference have given the green light to spring athletics this semester.

The Empire 8 and its Presidents Council issued the following statement Tuesday morning, affirming plans of playing spring sports in the coming months.

“During their February 11th meeting, the Empire 8 Presidents Council unanimously affirmed plans to proceed with spring sports competition. All plans remain contingent upon federal, state and local health guidance and the status of all contests will be subject to the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Empire 8 has adopted more robust testing standards than the NCAA guidelines for intermediate and low risk sports in the interest of student-athlete health and safety.

Schedules are being modified and will be posted on the conference and member institutions social media and websites shortly.”

At Keuka College, the Wolves will compete in their four traditional spring sports: baseball, softball, and men’s and women’s lacrosse. The Green and Gold will also tipoff on a modified basketball season starting in March. The status and feasibility of those seasons will continue to be evaluated based on local and state health recommendations.

In evaluating the climate and situation, Keuka College has decided to join those colleges opting out of playing fall sports this spring. While a difficult decision for the Department of Athletics and College, it was deemed necessary as the College continues to try to mitigate the risk of exposure while still maintaining as many options for students as possible.

Those impacted sports, men’s and women’s soccer, field hockey, and women’s volleyball, will continue with a spring practice season. It is a goal of the Department of Athletics to offer those teams a date of outside competition at the conclusion of their practice season.

Updates will continue to be provided by Keuka College and the Empire 8 Athletic Conference on the status of college athletics as necessary. 

Updates on plans for St. John Fisher College and Nazareth College have not yet been announced. The Empire 8 membership includes Alfred University, Elmira College, Hartwick College, Houghton College, Keuka, Nazareth, Russell Sage College, St. John Fisher and Utica College.