Seton Hill and Pitt-Johnstown officially accepted an invitation to join the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference on Tuesday, beginning with the 2013 season.
“This is an exciting time for us, and we wish both schools success in 2012-13, except, of course, when you play PSAC teams this year,” commissioner Steve Murray joked at a news conference. “This year, we'll still have to root against you.”
Murray said the conference's athletic directors have begun looking at scheduling options and will vote on the matter within the next couple of weeks. The schools will become the 17th and 18th members of the conference.
“The opportunity to align with schools that are all in Pennsylvania will have a tremendous benefit to us in terms of travel to our away contests, and the recognition of the PSAC, I think, is going to help in recruiting — not just for student-athletes, but in general,” Seton Hill athletic director Chris Snyder said. “The kids we're recruiting have heard of all the schools in the PSAC and can associate the competition they'd be playing, the schools where their friends go and so forth.”
Seton Hill and Pitt-Johnstown looked to the PSAC in June after nine schools announced they are leaving the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Murray said that although the process was “admittedly quick,” it was well considered and that the PSAC had been looking at both schools before the WVIAC shake-up.
Snyder said that as with anything new, the move will bring challenges for Seton Hill athletics.
“With the success of the schools in the conference, it's going to force us to step up our game to a tremendous degree,” Snyder said. “All (the coaches I've talked to) are excited. All are nervous, but they're all up for the challenge, which is good.”
Said Jem Spectar, president of Pitt-Johnstown: “We've been waiting for this. It's an outstanding conference and a great fit for Pitt-Johnstown. We look forward to robust competition.”
Karen Price is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 412-320-7980or kprice@tribweb.com.
