Cobleskill, N.Y.: After a Covid canceled 2020 season the SUNY Cobleskill women's cross-country team is preparing to make a new start in a new conference as the program transitions to the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) and the newly established NCAA Division III Niagara Region in 2021. After a long and successful run in the now defunct North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) the Fighting Tigers roster has suffered numerically due to graduation and the pandemic.

As the team begins its transition to these new competitive affiliations, Cobleskill's Head Coach Mitch Tomaszkiewicz will be leading yet another transitional phase in the program's history. As he starts his 29^th season at the helm of the program, making him the second longest tenured cross-country coach in his position at all levels of the SUNY System, the Fighting Tiger mentor is taking a philosophical approach to the campaign.

"Because of the number of young women that we lost to graduation and due to Covid, which also affected our recruiting efforts on a number of levels, it seems that we are back to square once again. The nice thing is that we have a small but committed group of ladies, like we did in 1993 when I took over the program, who are going to help us to start to start the rebuilding process once again."

Among the returners senior captain Gabriella Decker, Galway, N.Y., Galway High School, returns as does junior Lauren Wicks, Argyle, N.Y., Hartford High School, will both be counted on to contribute to the line-up this season.

Among the newcomers, freshman Jenna Swyers, Peru, N.Y., Peru High School, has been impressive in the early season workouts in what is going to be her first season of cross-country participation.  

The Fighting Tigers will open the season on Saturday September 4 when they travel to Marcy, N.Y. for the 2021 SUNY Poly Short Course Invitational beginning at 10:30 a.m.