AmCats on the move: Anna Maria College joins Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference
Anna Maria will be the first private college to join the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) as a core member in the 2025-26 academic year.
The AMC men’s hockey team will begin competing in the MASCAC in the fall of 2024, and 10 other programs, including football, in the fall of 2025.
Anna Maria joins the eight state universities, Bridgewater State, Fitchburg State, Framingham State, MCLA, Mass. Maritime, Salem State, Westfield State and Worcester State, as the competing core member institutions in the MASCAC.
“The MASCAC’s geographical footprint, rich history and regional membership make this a great opportunity for all of Anna Maria’s athletic programs,” AMC director of athletics Joe Brady said.
This is the first time since 1974 that the 54-year-old MASCAC has added a core member school.
“This new relationship builds upon the tradition of competitive excellence we aspire for our athletes and fans alike,” Anna Maria president Mary Lou Retelle said. “We look forward to bringing our talents to the conference, beginning in 2024 with hockey.”
Anna Maria joined the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) as a full member in 2011.
AMC was a founding member of the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC), which formed in 2009.
“This is a momentous moment for our core member institutions and student-athletes,” MASCAC commissioner Angela Baumann said. “Adding Anna Maria is geographically consistent with our core members, helps to increase sport sponsorship and secures the future of the MASCAC in our great state of Massachusetts. This decision by our presidents and athletics directors advances the MASCAC membership’s strategic coal of increasing our membership to protect our core membership and provide outstanding student-athlete opportunities for the next 50 years.”
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Anna Maria College joins Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference
