INDIANAPOLIS – With the health and safety of the division's student-athletes, coaches, athletics administrators and communities as its priority, the NCAA Division III Presidents' Council made the decision Wednesday to cancel the 2020 fall championships due to the COVID-19 pandemic and related administrative and financial challenges.
 
The NCAA Board of Governors directed each division to make a decision on its fall sport championships. It also agreed to require all member institutions to apply the resocialization principles to fall sports and set a 50% sponsorship threshold for a fall sport championship to be conducted.
 
"The cancellation of the fall 2020 NCAA Championships for Division III has been added to the list of disappointing, but unfortunately necessary decisions for our student-athletes starting this past March," noted Gettysburg's Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Mike Mattia. "While our fall teams may not be competing for National Championships this academic year, Gettysburg College and the Centennial Conference are still committed to providing the best athletic experience possible in the safest and healthiest way.  Our hope is that, should public health conditions allow, to compete this academic year for Centennial Conference championships."
 
NCAA Division II also cancelled its seven fall 2020 championships.
 
In early July, the Centennial Conference Presidents' Council announced the suspension of athletic activities to open the fall semester. That decision will be reevaluated by the conference presidents in September.
 
With students arriving on campus next week, Gettysburg has embarked on a plan to phase-in athletic activities in a safe manner that adheres to recommended guidelines established by the NCAA, Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the institution, and state and local governments. For more information regarding that plan, please visit our COVID-19 Resource Website.