INDIANAPOLIS – The University of Virginia’s College at Wise (UVa-Wise) has been admitted as a Provisional Member of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC), effective July 1, 2012. UVa-Wise will enter the G-MAC as the seventh member of the league and begin competition against fellow members in 2013-14.
If successfully admitted into NCAA Division II candidacy, the institution will become a Full Member of the G-MAC and will join the charter members of the Conference which includes Cedarville University (Cedarville, Ohio), Central State University (Wilberforce, Ohio), Kentucky Wesleyan College (Owensboro, Ky.), Trevecca Nazarene University (Nashville, Tenn.), Urbana University (Urbana, Ohio), and Ursuline College (Pepper Pike, Ohio).
"As the Great Midwest Athletic Conference continues to grow, we are delighted to add The University of Virginia’s College at Wise as a member school,” said Cedarville President Dr. William Brown, chair of the G-MAC Presidents Council. “Their commitment to quality education and a robust experience for their student athletes complements the current membership well."
UVa-Wise will be applying for admittance into the NCAA Division II membership process in advance of the June 1 deadline for submission of applications. If accepted into the membership process, UVa-Wise will work to meet the requirements of candidacy with the hope of an invitation to active NCAA Division II status for the 2015-16 academic year.
“Our members feel UVa-Wise is poised to make a smooth transition to NCAA Division II if extended an invitation to enter the membership process,” said G-MAC Commissioner Tom Daeger. “UVa-Wise has illustrated the leadership and drive to, not only meet the expectations of a NCAA Division II member, but to far exceed them and we will support them in their development through the membership process if the opportunity is awarded.”
Additionally, UVa-Wise will be included in future G-MAC schedules and, if approved as a NCAA Division II candidate, the institution will gain voting status in the G-MAC.
UVa-Wise, a public, liberal arts college, is located in Southwest Virginia amid the Appalachian Mountains with an enrollment of just over 2,100 students.
The Cavaliers currently compete in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in the Mid-South Conference and sponsor 11 sports. UVa-Wise offers student-athletes the opportunity to compete in men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball, football, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s golf, men’s and women’s tennis and softball. The Cavaliers have won eight conference or regional titles over the course of the past five seasons and will be adding women’s golf to their sport offerings beginning in 2012-13.
“UVa-Wise clearly takes pride in serving the Southwest Virginia region and in developing an athletic program that will assist in that goal,” said Daeger. “We look forward to UVa-Wise assisting in the growth and development of our conference in the same fashion and are excited about the future of the G-MAC.”
The G-MAC, which was approved by the NCAA as a member conference effective September 1, 2012, will be working through an educational assessment program for the 2012-13 academic year with the goal of beginning competition as the 24 active NCAA Division II conference by 2013-14.