April 2025

Dear UHS Community,

We are thrilled to share some significant and positive news regarding the future of athletics in Central Massachusetts. After a comprehensive review and adoption of new bylaws, the Central Massachusetts Athletic Conference (CMAC) is moving forward with a renewed vision and structure, poised to enhance the athletic experience for all our student-athletes.

UHS has played a pivotal role in this transformative process, with our administration serving as key drivers in the bylaw review. We are proud to announce that our Athletic Director, Ms. Wandyes, has been elected Secretary of the CMAC Athletic Directors’ Executive Board, and our Principal will serve on the Executive Board as the first President of the CMAC Principal Executive Board. This strong representation ensures that UHS will have a significant voice in shaping the conference's direction and future.

The CMAC now comprises 34 member schools, bringing together institutions from four parent leagues. This expanded collaboration will foster greater competition and opportunities for our student-athletes. Based on the newly adopted bylaws, the member schools of the CMAC are:

 

 

Given the size of the conference, we are anticipating that newly created divisions will be competitive and balanced. These have been based on two-year power rating samples and organized according to those factors, in addition to school size being a relative driver of the schedule to ensure equity. Within divisions, schools will play each other twice, leaving the remainder of the schedule open for matchups against traditional or long standing rivalries or other schools in a similar divisional alignment. In addition, there will be no appeals of division assignment in year one, to allow some of the alignments to play out.

 Here are a couple of examples of our future divisional configurations with the CMAC:

 

Field Hockey: CMAC Division A

TOTAL: 8 league games, up to 10-12 “nonleague” games

Non-power ranked sports like track and field, golf, and cross country will have geographic and size-based assignments.

We understand that with such a significant restructuring, some traditional rivalries and familiar opponents may change. This is a natural part of progress, and we are committed to ensuring that all our teams continue to have meaningful and competitive experiences. We recognize the importance of these rivalries and will work to maintain the spirit of competition in new and exciting ways. It also means that we are no longer obligated to play some schools that are neither geographically nor competitively sensible.

Our focus remains on providing our student-athletes with the best possible opportunities to excel both on and off the field. We are confident that the new CMAC structure will create a more dynamic and competitive environment, fostering growth, sportsmanship, and community spirit.

We appreciate your understanding and support as we navigate this exciting transition. We are optimistic about the future of UHS athletics within the CMAC and look forward to celebrating the successes of our student-athletes. Go Spartans!

Sincerely,

Dr. Michael Rubin, Principal
Beth Wandyes, Athletic Director