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(NewsDakota.com) – The University of Jamestown athletic teams are headed to the Great Plains Athletic Conference in the fall of 2018.

The move has been in the works for a few months, but it was voted on Tuesday by the conference presidents and announced officially today. University of Jamestown Athletic Director Sean Johnson stated at the conference that the discussions have been going on for some time.

Great Plains Athletic Conference Commissioner Corey Westra explained the history of the conference and that they were excited to be welcoming in the University of Jamestown.

The Jimmies will continue to be a member of the North Star Athletic Association for the rest of this year and the entire 2017-18 academic year.

Athletic Director Sean Johnson stated that current rivalries for the University, including Mayville State and Valley City State University, were aware of the transition. He says the hope is to continue to compete against those teams in non-conference match-ups.

Johnson was asked if it was a tough sell to move the University into the GPAC. He said not at all, comparing the GPAC in the NAIA to the Big 10 in NCAA.

Westra says Jamestown will be an affiliate for the 2017-18 year, then officially become a member for the 2018-19 season.

Jamestown will be the 12th team in the league that features some of the strongest programs the NAIA has to offer. They will be the leagues first North Dakota school with the other institutions hailing from Nebraska, South Dakota and Iowa.