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Saturday, April 23, 2016
Gold Nuggets win 4 events at GCAC Championships
NEW ORLEANS — Drew Chatters and Terri Cunningham repeated as champions, andDionysia Love won a pair of titles to lead Xavier University of Louisiana's women Saturday in the seventh annual Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Track and Field Championships at Tad Gormley Stadium.
The Gold Nuggets, winner of the past three GCAC team titles and five of the previous six, finished third with 131 points. Dillard won the women's title with 176 points, and Edward Waters was second with 159.
In men's team scoring, Xavier placed fifth with 30 points. Edward Waters repeated as team champion with 200 points.
Chatters won the javelin on her final throw, 32.81 meters (107 feet, 8 inches). Cunningham won the high jump in 1.51 meters (4-11 1/2), a half-inch better than her 2015 mark. Love, one of six freshmen to score for the Gold Nuggets, won the 3,000-meter steeplechase in the morning in 12 minutes, 44.70 seconds, then won the 5,000 late in the afternoon in 22:28.57.
Two XU freshmen finished second — Maliya Vaughan in the 1,500 (5:18.03) andBrianna Pace in the 5,000 (22.32.34).
The Gold Nuggets placed second in two relays (400 and 3,200) and third in the other (1,600). At 400 meters, Chelsea James, Destini Thomas, Alexis Milton and Martina Wrightproduced a school-record 47.04 seconds that met the A-qualifying standard for next month's NAIA National Championships. At 3,200 meters, an all-freshman quartet of Love,Chinyere Jones, Pace and Vaughan finished in 10:24.59. In the 1,600, Kailey Williams, Clarke Allen, Jones and Kayla Quincy produced a season-best 3:58.07.
Nuggets newcomers accounted for 80 points, nearly two-thirds of their team total. XU freshmen scored 70 1/2 points. Love (23 points), Vaughan (20) and Cunningham (15) were the Nuggets' leading scorers.
The Xavier men did not win any events but got a runner-up finish from freshmanKeairez Coleman in the triple jump (13.68 meters/44-10 3/4) and thirds from Christopher Kennie in the long jump (6.83/22-5) and Christopher August in the 1,500 (4:19.03). Coleman's mark is the best by a Gold Rush jumper in the last four seasons. Kennie's long jump was his best since 2013.
Coleman, the leading Gold Rush scorer with 10 points, placed sixth in the long jump (6.31/20-8 1/2) and shot put (10.20/33-5 3/4).
Xavier and SUNO were co-hosts of the GCAC Championships. Next competition for Xavier will be the HBCU National Classic May 13-14 at Huntsville, Ala.
SCSU Men's Tennis Claims 2016 MEAC Title
NORFOLK, Virginia -- The South Carolina State Bulldogs made it a clean sweep on Saturday as the men's tennis team captured the 2016 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Men's Championship with a 4-0 victory over Florida A&M University at the Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center on the campus of Old Dominion University.
Earlier in the day South Carolina State's women's team won the championship also with a 4-0 sweep of Florida A&M.
"We've battled so many injuries this year," South Carolina State Head Coach Hardeep Judge said. "Everybody stepped up all year long. We played FAMU and it was a tough match in Tallahasse earlier in the year. We worked on a lot of things we needed to work on and I think that was the difference."
In doubles, the Bulldogs took victories at the top two lines to take the team point. At number one, Jakub Vitek and Martin Figura defeated C. Agustin Waitman and Walner Espinoza 7-6 (7-5). The number two line saw Vladyslav Yanchenko and Salih Gilmutdinovtook a 6-3 win over Courage Okungbowa and Illya Skoromnyy.
South Carolina State scored wins at numbers one, two and five singles to finish off the sweep. Yanchenko defeated Karlyn Small 6-3, 6-0 at number two and Aleksander Stuparknocked off Jalen Evans 6-4, 6-2 at number five. Figura scored a 6-2, 6-1 win over Okungbowa at the top line for the clinching point.
The championship for the Bulldogs was the eighth in a row, 11th in the last 12 completed tournaments and 14thoverall.
With the win, South Carolina State (12-8) earned the conference's automatic qualification to the NCAA Division I Men's Tennis Championships. The NCAA selection show will air on May 3 at 5:30 p.m. online at www.ncaa.com.
For more information about men's tennis, please visit www.meacsports.com.
Men's All-Tournament
Outstanding Performer: Jakub Vitek, South Carolina State
Outstanding Coach: Hardeep Judge, South Carolina State
Doubles
Singles
COURTESY SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS
Earlier in the day South Carolina State's women's team won the championship also with a 4-0 sweep of Florida A&M.
"We've battled so many injuries this year," South Carolina State Head Coach Hardeep Judge said. "Everybody stepped up all year long. We played FAMU and it was a tough match in Tallahasse earlier in the year. We worked on a lot of things we needed to work on and I think that was the difference."
In doubles, the Bulldogs took victories at the top two lines to take the team point. At number one, Jakub Vitek and Martin Figura defeated C. Agustin Waitman and Walner Espinoza 7-6 (7-5). The number two line saw Vladyslav Yanchenko and Salih Gilmutdinovtook a 6-3 win over Courage Okungbowa and Illya Skoromnyy.
South Carolina State scored wins at numbers one, two and five singles to finish off the sweep. Yanchenko defeated Karlyn Small 6-3, 6-0 at number two and Aleksander Stuparknocked off Jalen Evans 6-4, 6-2 at number five. Figura scored a 6-2, 6-1 win over Okungbowa at the top line for the clinching point.
The championship for the Bulldogs was the eighth in a row, 11th in the last 12 completed tournaments and 14thoverall.
With the win, South Carolina State (12-8) earned the conference's automatic qualification to the NCAA Division I Men's Tennis Championships. The NCAA selection show will air on May 3 at 5:30 p.m. online at www.ncaa.com.
For more information about men's tennis, please visit www.meacsports.com.
Men's All-Tournament
Outstanding Performer: Jakub Vitek, South Carolina State
Outstanding Coach: Hardeep Judge, South Carolina State
Doubles
#3 | Alvaro Barrera/Pablo Lopez | Bethune-Cookman |
#2 | Salih Gilmutdinov/Vladyslav Yanchenko | South Carolina State |
#1 | Martin Figura/Jakub Vitek | South Carolina State |
Singles
#6 | Illya Skoromnyy | Florida A&M |
#5 | Alexander Stupar | South Carolina State |
#4 | Evan Ward | Morgan State |
#3 | Jakub Vitek | South Carolina State |
#2 | Vladyslav Yanchenko | South Carolina State |
#1 | Courage Okungbowa | Florida A&M |
COURTESY SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS
SC State Captures 2016 MEAC Women's Tennis Title
NORFOLK, Virginia -- The South Carolina State Lady Bulldogs clinched the 2016 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Women's Tennis Championship on Saturday morning with a 4-0 win over Florida A&M at the Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center on the campus of Old Dominion University.
South Carolina State Head Coach Hardeep Judge, the tournament's outstanding coach, was extremely proud of the championship effort put on by his squad.
"We knew we had to play hard," Judge said. "The last time we played them, it was a tough match, a 4-3 contest so we knew we had to jump on top them early. This championship was very special. I didn't coach the team last year and this year we started out 1-9. I kept telling the girls that I believe in you. They responded this weekend."
In doubles, South Carolina State won at number one and number three slots to earn the team point. Intissar Rassif and Dakota Brown defeated Shantel Blackwood and Arrice Robinson 6-2 at the number one slot, while Andjela Vasic and Marketa Marcanikova won at number three over Elizabeth Clayton and Alexis Dean 6-4 for the team point.
The singles matches were highlighted by Rassif, who was named the Outstanding Performer of the tournament, winning at number one over Alexis Dean 6-0, 6-2. Vasic defeated Olivia Rolle 6-3, 6-1 at number three singles to get the Lady Bulldogs to within a point of the championship. Carla Petreanu won the tournament-clinching match defeating Clayton at number six singles 6-0, 6-4.
The tournament title was the first for South Carolina State since 2014 and they have now won 11 of the last 12 MEAC Championships and 12th overall.
With the win, South Carolina State (8-10) earned the conference's automatic qualification to the NCAA Division I Women's Tennis Championships. The NCAA selection show will air on May 3 at 5 p.m. online at www.ncaa.com.
For more information about women's tennis, please visit www.meacsports.com.
Women's All-Tournament Team
Outstanding Coach: Hardeep Judge South Carolina State
Outstanding Performer: Intissar Rassif South Carolina State
Doubles
#3 | Marketa Marcanikova/Andjela Vasic | South Carolina State |
#2 | Dominique Henry/Olivia Rolle | Florida A&M |
#1 | Dakota Brown/Intissar Rassif | South Carolina State |
#6 | Elizabeth Clayton | Florida A&M |
#5 | Dakota Brown | South Carolina State |
#4 | Dominique Henry | Florida A&M |
#3 | Andjela Vasic | South Carolina State |
#2 | Matea Roki | Bethune-Cookman |
#1 | Intissar Rassif | South Carolina State |
COURTESY SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS
Alabama State clinches East Division
ITTA BENA, Mississippi – The Alabama State Hornets captured the program’s third-straight SWAC East title on Saturday, with a 10-0 victory over Mississippi Valley State at Magnolia Field.
The Hornets improve to 17-0 in SWAC East action and 25-14 on the year while the Delta Devils fall to 6-29 for the season and 4-16 in conference play.
Hornet starter Tyler Howe (7-3) threw a complete game one hitter and only allowed two other Delta Devils to reach base, (one walk and hit batter), while matching a season-high 10 strike outs in the win.
The Alabama State offense exploded for 14 hits, as Yamil Pagan and Carlos Ocasio both collected three hits, including a double each. Pagan also added a triple as Ocasio batted in three runs. Dillon Cooper chipped in two hits and two RBI as well.
MVSU’s Drew Wheeler collected his base hit in the first inning, while Arrington Smith was hit by a pitch in the fourth. Marcus Jones drew a walk in the fifth inning for the Delta Devils.
On the hill, Smith (3-8) gave up eight runs (seven earned) on 12 hits, striking out two, walking one and hitting three batters to take the loss.
The final game of the weekend series is Sunday at Magnolia Field, with first pitch set for 1 PM.
SWAC Baseball.
COURTESY SWAC MEDIA RELATIONS
The Hornets improve to 17-0 in SWAC East action and 25-14 on the year while the Delta Devils fall to 6-29 for the season and 4-16 in conference play.
Hornet starter Tyler Howe (7-3) threw a complete game one hitter and only allowed two other Delta Devils to reach base, (one walk and hit batter), while matching a season-high 10 strike outs in the win.
The Alabama State offense exploded for 14 hits, as Yamil Pagan and Carlos Ocasio both collected three hits, including a double each. Pagan also added a triple as Ocasio batted in three runs. Dillon Cooper chipped in two hits and two RBI as well.
MVSU’s Drew Wheeler collected his base hit in the first inning, while Arrington Smith was hit by a pitch in the fourth. Marcus Jones drew a walk in the fifth inning for the Delta Devils.
On the hill, Smith (3-8) gave up eight runs (seven earned) on 12 hits, striking out two, walking one and hitting three batters to take the loss.
The final game of the weekend series is Sunday at Magnolia Field, with first pitch set for 1 PM.
SWAC Baseball.
COURTESY SWAC MEDIA RELATIONS
UAPB Releases 2016 Football Schedule
PINE BLUFF, Arkansas --- The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Department of Athletics has announced its 2016 football schedule, an 11-game schedule with five games in the state of Arkansas, including four in Pine Bluff and one game potentially in Little Rock.
The month of September will feature two home contests and two road contests for the Golden Lions.
UAPB will open its 2016 campaign against Tennessee State on Saturday, Sept. 3 in the annual Big John Merritt Classic in Nashville, Tenn. at Nissan Stadium, the home the NFL's Tennessee Titans. The last time the Golden Lions and Tigers squared off against each other was in 2012, UAPB's championship season.
The following week, on Saturday, Sept. 10, UAPB will welcome Oklahoma Panhandle State to Golden Lion Stadium in a 6 p.m. kickoff for its home opener. This will be the first-ever meeting between the Golden Lions and the Aggies on the gridiron.
In its second road trip in the month of September, UAPB will travel to Alcorn State, Miss. to take on Alcorn State at Jack Spinks/Marino Casem Stadium on Sept. 15 in a Thursday night special contest.
The Golden Lions will close out the month of September against Jackson State, tentatively at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Ark. on Saturday, Sept. 24.
For the month of October, UAPB will make trips to Alabama and Louisiana and host its annual homecoming game during the month as well.
The Golden Lions will kick off the month with a trip to Montgomery, Ala. for a Saturday, October 1 matchup against Alabama State at New Hornet Stadium. This is the first time in two seasons that UAPB will not face ASU on a Thursday night.
Two weeks later, the Golden Lions will take on Alabama A&M on Saturday, Oct. 15 in its annual homecoming game at Golden Lion Stadium with a 2:30 p.m. start.
UAPB will make back-to-back trips to Louisiana with the Golden Lions facing Southern on Oct. 22 at A.W. Mumford Stadium in Baton Rouge and Grambling State on Oct. 29 at Eddie Robinson Stadium in Grambling.
The Golden Lions will close out the 2016 regular-season with three games in the month of November. UAPB will face Mississippi Valley State on Nov. 5 at Golden Lion Stadium in Pine Bluff at 2:30 p.m. before traveling to Houston to take on Texas Southern on Nov. 12 at BBVA Compass Stadium at 2 p.m. The regular-season ends against Prairie View A&M in the Golden Lions' annual Senior and Church Day game in Pine Bluff at 2:30 p.m.
Date | Opponent | Stadium | Location | Time |
Sept. 3 | at Tennessee State | Nissan | Nashville, Tenn. | 6 p.m. |
Sept. 10 | Oklahoma Panhandle State | Golden Lion | Pine Bluff, Ark. | 6 p.m. |
Sept. 15 | at Alcorn State* | Jack Spinks/Marino Casem | Alcorn State, Miss. | TBA |
Sept. 24 | vs. Jackson State* | War Memorial+ | Little Rock, Ark.+ | 4 p.m. |
Oct. 1 | at Alabama State* | New Hornet | Montgomery, Ala. | 2 p.m. |
Oct. 15 | Alabama A&M* (Homecoming) | Golden Lion | Pine Bluff, Ark. | 2:30 p.m. |
Oct. 22 | at Southern* | A.W. Mumford | Baton Rouge, La. | 4 p.m. |
Oct. 29 | at Grambling State* | Eddie Robinson | Grambling, La. | TBA |
Nov. 5 | Miss. Valley State* | Golden Lion | Pine Bluff, Ark. | 2:30 p.m. |
Nov. 12 | at Texas Southern* | BBVA Compass | Houston, Texas | 2 p.m. |
Nov. 19 | Prairie View A&M* | Golden Lion | Pine Bluff, Ark. | 2:30 p.m. |
*Denotes Southwestern Athletic Conference games
+Tentative Site for this game
All home games at Golden Lion Stadium are in bold
All times and dates are subject to change
HC-Homecoming
COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS PINE BLUFF ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS
Augusta Wins MEAC Championship, Robin Petersson Wins Back-to-Back Title
SAVANNAH, Georgia -- The No. 30 Augusta Jaguars claimed the top five spots individually to win their second consecutive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championship with a commanding 30-under par performance on Saturday at Crosswinds Golf Club in Savannah, Ga. With the win, Augusta earns an automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament and awaits the regional selection show.
On the par-72, 6,748-yard course, the Jaguars slowly built their lead across each round and finished 30-under par to claim the title. Bethune-Cookman took second (+3), Florida A&M third (+42), Savannah State fourth (+60), North Carolina Central fifth (+63), Maryland Eastern Shore sixth (+95), and Hampton seventh (+137).
The Jaguars combined for 29 birdies in round three and improved by 10 shots from one round two to round three with a 270 (-18). For the second straight year, Jags senior Robin Petersson was named the Most Outstanding Player for winning the MEAC Championship in back-to-back years.
Petersson shot his second 69 (-3) of the event to finish 11-under par.
Sophomore Broc Everett tied the low round school record for Augusta University since 1993-94 with a 64 (-8) in round three. Everett had nine birdies in round two and took second overall seven below par.
Junior Jake Marriott finished sixth under to take third in the 32-man field with a round-three 71 (-1) and senior Maverick Antcliff came on strong in the final round and dropped six strokes for a 66 (-6) to card fourth.
Rounding out the Jags and taking a tie for fifth was junior Emmanuel Kountakis who posted a 71 for his low round across the event to end up even par for 54 holes.
MEAC (Final Scores – JAGUARS)
COURTESY AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS
With MEAC football needing to improve its APR numbers, HU is the perfect role model
HAMPTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS |
Dennis Thomas, the MEAC's commissioner, called that "an aberration" in that the league had never been hit that hard in one sport. But it will be the sixth consecutive year that at least one football team has been banned from the playoffs.
"We're disappointed, but we're not discouraged," Thomas said Friday. "I have no question it will get better because I've seen it get better. I'm not just saying it just because I want it to get better."
Thomas has seen it. And his former employer is the model.
In the summer of 2012, Hampton University's football team was barred from postseason play because of an APR of 881 — 49 points below the NCAA-set minimum for eligibility. University President William Harvey didn't complain about the process. He simply vowed the numbers would improve.
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Gold Nuggets take aim at 4th consecutive GCAC title
NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana will seek a fourth consecutive team title Saturday in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Tad Gormley Stadium.
The Gold Nuggets return champions in four events and, based on this season's times and distances, are seeded first in six events.
The one-day, five-school meet will begin with field events at 8:45 a.m. The final event, the 1,600-meter relay, will begin at 4:45 p.m. Team awards will be presented at 5:15 p.m. Admission is free.
Competing with Xavier for team and individual honors will be the women and men of Dillard, Edward Waters, SUNO and Talladega.
"I like our chances of repeating," XU coach Joseph Moses said, "if we take care of the events where we have depth and our high seeds maintain their spots Saturday. We could score a lot of points. But we expect another competitive meet that may not get decided until late in the day."
Returning champions for the XU women are Terri Cunningham in the 400-meter hurdles and high jump, Drew Chatters in the javelin and Tylor Row in the 100 hurdles. The Gold Nuggets' top seeds are Chatters, Cunningham (high jump), Maliya Vaughan in the 1,500, Dionysia Love in the 5,000 and 3,000 steeplechase and the 3,200 relay team of Love, Chinyere Jones, Brianna Pace and Vaughn.
In six previous GCAC meets (2004, 2011-15), the Gold Nuggets won the team title five times, missing only in 2012. Xavier surpassed 200 points each of the past two seasons and won by 44 points over runner-up Edward Waters a year ago.
For the Xavier men, Christopher August is a defending champion in the 5,000. The Gold Rush's lone top seed is Brent Kitto in the 1,500. Kitto won that event in 2014.
Edward Waters is the defending men's team champion and won that title three of the past four years. The Tigers scored 156 points in 2015, 35 more than runner-up Dillard.
Other student-athletes to watch include:
• SUNO's Shantae Green, the NAIA's third-ranked woman in the 400 hurdles.
• SUNO's Leonie Robinson, No. 4 in the NAIA in the women's 200 and the GCAC defending champion.
• Dillard's Danielle Glover, two-time defending champion in the women's hammer.
• SUNO's Jahnoy Thompson, the No. 3 NAIA male in the 400 and No. 5 in the 200.
• Edward Waters' Mikevion Hall, No. 3 in the NAIA in the men's long jump.
• SUNO's Chad Thomas, a two-time defending GCAC champion in the men's 400 hurdles and No. 4 in the NAIA.
The meet schedule:
Field Events | |
8:45 a.m. | Men's Hammer (women to follow) — outside stadium |
9:30 a.m. | Men's High Jump (women to follow) |
9:30 a.m. | Women's Long Jump (men to follow) |
11 a.m. | Men's Javelin (women to follow) — outside stadium |
11 a.m. | Women's Shot Put (men to follow) |
1:45 p.m. | Men's Discus (women to follow) — outside stadium |
1:45 p.m. | Women's Triple Jump (men to follow) |
1:45 p.m. | Men's Pole Vault (women to follow) — warm up at 1 p.m. |
Track Events (in meters) | |
9:30 a.m. | 3,000 Steeplechase Women/Men |
10:55 a.m. | National Anthem |
11 a.m. | 400 Relay Women/Men |
11:20 a.m. | 1,500 Run Women/Men |
11:50 a.m. | 100 Hurdles Women |
Noon | 110 Hurdles Men |
12:15 p.m. | 400 meters Women/Men |
12:45 p.m. | 3,200 Relay Women/Men |
1 p.m. | Break |
2 p.m. | 100 Women/Men |
2:20 p.m. | 400 Hurdles Women/Men |
2:45 p.m. | 800 Women/Men |
3:15 p.m. | 200 Dash Women/Men |
3:30 p.m. | 5,000 Run Women/Men |
4:45 p.m. | 1,600 Relay Women/Men |
5:15 p.m. | Awards and Presentations |
GCAC Championships Team Scoring | |||||
Men | |||||
Year | Champion | Points | Runner-up | Points | |
2004 | Xavier | 92 | SUNO | 24 | |
2011 | Dillard | 161 1/2 | Edward Waters | 136 | |
2012 | Edward Waters | 217 | Dillard | 192 | |
2013 | Edward Waters | 212 | Dillard | 188 | |
2014 | Dillard | 178 | Edward Waters | 153 | |
2015 | Edward Waters | 156 | Dillard | 121 | |
Women | |||||
Year | Champion | Points | Runner-up | Points | |
2004 | Xavier | 82 | SUNO | 10 | |
2011 | Xavier | 138 1/2 | Dillard | 133 | |
2012 | Dillard | 218 | (tie) Edward Waters, SUNO | 142 | |
2013 | Xavier | 184 | Edward Waters | 175 | |
2014 | Xavier | 213 | Dillard | 168 | |
2015 | Xavier | 202 | Edward Waters | 158 |
Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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NAIA Approves Stillman College for Membership
KANSAS CITY, Missouri -- The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Council of Presidents is pleased to announce the approval of four institutions for membership in the NAIA, effective July 1, 2016. The announcement occurred at the 75th Annual National Convention on Tuesday (April 19). The current NAIA membership total now stands at 252 total institutions.
The four new members are Crowley’s Ridge College (Ark.), Silver Lake College of the Holy Family (Wis.), Stillman College (Ala.) and University of the Virgin Islands. Two other institutions – University of Antelope Valley (Calif.) and Benedictine University at Mesa (Ariz.) – were both approved into the active membership category for the 2016-17 academic year. Both of these universities will now be allowed to participate in postseason competition, be included in the national awards programs and vote in the Association business.
“We are very excited to welcome these four new institutions into the NAIA and pledge to be a part of their growth,” Jim Carr, NAIA President and CEO said. “Our association offers a different approach that places student-athletes at the center of all decision-making and focuses on character at the core of sports. These institutions recognize the value NAIA brings and desire to be a part of this great organization.”
Crowley’s Ridge was affiliated with the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), Silver Lake College was affiliated with the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA), Stillman was an athletic member of NCAA Division II and the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), and Virgin Islands was associated with Liga Atletica Interuniversitaria (LAI), which is comprised of 21 universities that each offer a minimum of six women’s sports and six men’s sports. Virgin Islands is the only public institution of the group.
Silver Lake is the oldest of the group, as the 2016-17 academic year will serve as the school’s 36th year of intercollegiate athletics. Stillman will enter its 17th season, Virgin Islands will enter its 11th and Crowley’s Ridge will enter its eighth as a four-year school.
The NAIA Membership Committee reviewed each institution’s application and determined which institutions would move to the next stage of the process. Those institutions then participated in a campus visit by a Membership Evaluation Team. The recommendations of each campus visit were supported by the Membership Committee, which then were presented to the Council of Presidents for final approval.
The NAIA is in the fifth year of the current membership process, where institutions are only able to apply for NAIA membership on an annual basis. Membership applications must be received in the NAIA office by Oct.1 each year to receive consideration for the following year. Institutions applying to the NAIA must meet membership criteria that include financial stability, sports sponsorship, accreditation and a commitment to character-driven athletics. The Membership Committee also reviews enrollment numbers, graduation percentages, retention rates and overall athletics budgets.
COURTESY NAIA MEDIA RELATIONS
The four new members are Crowley’s Ridge College (Ark.), Silver Lake College of the Holy Family (Wis.), Stillman College (Ala.) and University of the Virgin Islands. Two other institutions – University of Antelope Valley (Calif.) and Benedictine University at Mesa (Ariz.) – were both approved into the active membership category for the 2016-17 academic year. Both of these universities will now be allowed to participate in postseason competition, be included in the national awards programs and vote in the Association business.
“We are very excited to welcome these four new institutions into the NAIA and pledge to be a part of their growth,” Jim Carr, NAIA President and CEO said. “Our association offers a different approach that places student-athletes at the center of all decision-making and focuses on character at the core of sports. These institutions recognize the value NAIA brings and desire to be a part of this great organization.”
Crowley’s Ridge was affiliated with the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), Silver Lake College was affiliated with the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA), Stillman was an athletic member of NCAA Division II and the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), and Virgin Islands was associated with Liga Atletica Interuniversitaria (LAI), which is comprised of 21 universities that each offer a minimum of six women’s sports and six men’s sports. Virgin Islands is the only public institution of the group.
Silver Lake is the oldest of the group, as the 2016-17 academic year will serve as the school’s 36th year of intercollegiate athletics. Stillman will enter its 17th season, Virgin Islands will enter its 11th and Crowley’s Ridge will enter its eighth as a four-year school.
The NAIA Membership Committee reviewed each institution’s application and determined which institutions would move to the next stage of the process. Those institutions then participated in a campus visit by a Membership Evaluation Team. The recommendations of each campus visit were supported by the Membership Committee, which then were presented to the Council of Presidents for final approval.
The NAIA is in the fifth year of the current membership process, where institutions are only able to apply for NAIA membership on an annual basis. Membership applications must be received in the NAIA office by Oct.1 each year to receive consideration for the following year. Institutions applying to the NAIA must meet membership criteria that include financial stability, sports sponsorship, accreditation and a commitment to character-driven athletics. The Membership Committee also reviews enrollment numbers, graduation percentages, retention rates and overall athletics budgets.
COURTESY NAIA MEDIA RELATIONS
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