E8 Grants Houghton Teams Access to Conference Championships
HOUGHTON, N.Y. – As Houghton athletics continues to move on in the NCAA membership process, a recent decision by the Empire 8 will now give Highlander teams the chance to compete for conference championships beginning this fall.
At its spring meeting the conference Athletic Directors voted unanimously to approve Houghton's eligibility to participate in conference championships that they qualify for. "Since the results against Houghton now count by NCAA standards it made sense to provide the opportunity to compete in our championships if they earn the spot," said E8 Commissioner Chuck Mitrano.
The impetus for the move follows an NCAA allowance for games against year three provisional members to count in the NCAA criteria for at-large bids. Houghton was recently approved for year three provisional status (
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"We are excited that Houghton has the opportunity to compete for Empire 8 championships beginning this fall," Mitrano added. "The Highlanders have been great members and have advanced through the first three years of the stringent NCAA provisional process. It's a quality opportunity for the student-athletes and another important milestone for Houghton College and the Empire 8."
With Houghton still unable to compete at the NCAA national level, if a Houghton team wins its respective E8 tournament, the conference tournament runner-up will earn the AQ to the NCAA.
"This is a very gracious move by the conference and the member schools," said Houghton Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics H. "Skip" Lord. "It's a great opportunity for our teams to compete at a meaningful level in the E8 and will be a nice gauge to see our potential for earning NCAA postseason spots once we become full members in 2016."