Castleton Leaving The North Atlantic Conference

BREAKING NEWS: Castleton University in Vermont and its powerhouse athletics program is leaving the North Atlantic Conference to join the Little East Conference. The move to the LEC will take place for the 2018-2019 year.

In recent years, Castleton and Husson University have dominated many of the sports in the NAC. The Spartans are the #1 seed in the baseball tournament this weekend and is three-time defending champion. The softball team plays this weekend as the #2 seed.

The Spartans have won nine league championships in various sports in just the last two years.

The LEC is the Division III conference that the University of Southern Maine plays in. The addition of Castleton makes it a nine school league. It is the first expansion for the LEC in 20 years.

“On behalf of the Presidents Council of the Little East Conference, I am pleased to add Castleton University to our membership effective for the 2018-19 academic year,” said Elsa Núñez, President of Eastern Connecticut State University and Chair of the LEC Presidents Council. “Adding another institution to our league enhances our competitiveness, gives us greater Automatic Qualifier flexibility, strengthens our budget and enhances the student- athlete experience.”

“Castleton is absolutely delighted to be a member of the Little East Conference and we hope that we can contribute over the coming years to the league's impressive and storied traditions,” said Castleton University President Dave Wolk. “The Little East aligns well with us both academically and athletically, and we think it’s a perfect fit as we all share the same goals of good sportsmanship, academic excellence and community engagement.”  - LEC Press Release

The move by Castleton means the NAC will lose two members in 2018-2019. Colby-Sawyer had already announced it was leaving to join the Great Northeast Athletic Confernce (GNAC).

It leaves the North Atlantic Conference with Husson, UMaine Farmington, Thomas College, Maine Maritime Academy, Green Mountain College, Lyndon State College, Johnson State and New England College.