NEC Athletics to Join North Atlantic Conference

The NAC currently sponsors 13 championships in men’s and women’s athletics. Beginning in the fall of 2011, New England College  will take part in 10 NAC championships: men's and women's basketball; men's and women’s cross country; men's and women's soccer; field hockey; softball; and men’s and women’s lacrosse. NEC will join other NAC members who sponsor baseball and compete as associate members in the North Eastern Athletic Conference.

Founded in the fall of 1999, the North Atlantic Conference is currently comprised of eight NCAA Division III institutions. Current members are Castleton State College (Castleton, VT), Green Mountain College (Poultney, VT), Husson University (Bangor, ME), Johnson State College (Johnson, VT), Lyndon State College (Lyndon, VT), University of Maine at Farmington (Farmington, ME), Maine Maritime Academy (Castine, ME), and Thomas College (Waterville, ME).

"The move to the North Atlantic Conference will benefit the New England College student-athletes by providing great competition as well as an emphasis on sportsmanship and citizenship,” said NEC Athletic Director Lori Runksmeier. “We are excited to have been invited into the league and look forward to a long and mutually beneficial partnership."

"New England College is most pleased to be joining the colleague institutions of the North Atlantic Conference,” stated New England College President Michele Perkins. “Not only does the conference allow our student-athletes to establish new athletic relationships, but it will also provide an opportunity to maintain the long and collegial rivalry we have enjoyed with our neighbor Colby-Sawyer College."

For more information on the North Atlantic Conference, visit their website: www.nacathletics.com.