Marian University (D3 WI) and University of Montevallo (D2 AL) Add Lacrosse

FOND DU LAC, Wis. – Marian University director of athletics Jason Bartelt is pleased to announce the addition of men's lacrosse and the hiring of Reid Mayberry as the program's first head coach. The Sabres will begin play in the 2017-18 season.

 "I am extremely excited to bring lacrosse in as an NCAA sport to Marian University and our athletic department," Bartelt said. "Lacrosse is an up-and-coming-sport in our area and will have a

tremendous impact on our campus." The university approved the addition of men's lacrosse to Marian's athletics offerings earlier this month and will become the 21st varsity sport. The addition of men's lacrosse is expected to add 50 to 60 student-athletes to the university, athletic administrators have stated

 "Lacrosse is an exciting, fast paced game of skill and teamwork. I'm very excited to add it to the collection of sports already offered at Marian University." Marian President Dr. Andrew Manion said. "I'm also really pleased to be adding Reid to our coaching staff. He has exceptional experience as a coach and a player at exemplary NCAA Division III lacrosse programs."

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MONTEVALLO, Ala. – University of Montevallo President John W. Stewart III recently announced the addition of men's lacrosse as the 18th intercollegiate sport. Men's lacrosse will become the eighth men's intercollegiate sport at the University. It is the seventh intercollegiate sport added at the University in the past four years.

 "I would like to thank the University Board of Trustees and President Stewart for approving men's lacrosse," said Athletic Director Mark Richard. "The lacrosse community continues to expand on the national landscape and in the state of Alabama and we're excited to be part of the sport's growth." The men's lacrosse program will begin its inaugural season in the spring of 2018. A national search to find the first head coach in the history of the program will begin immediately.

The program will play home games at the natural grass field at the lacrosse/track and field facility that opened in the spring of 2016. For more information about the head coaching position and the program's new facility, visit www.montevallo.edu or www.montevallofalcons.com.

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US Lacrosse Releases 2015 Participation Survey

ational lacrosse participation topped 800,000 active players for the first time since US Lacrosse began monitoring participation levels in 2001. For the year, total participation grew 2.2 percent to a total of 802,044 players competing on organized teams.

Youth lacrosse continues to be the largest segment of play in the country with nearly 450,000 players under the age of 15. For the second consecutive year there were 14 states with at least 10,000 players, led by New York with 56,335 players. At the high school level, lacrosse remains the fastest-growing team sport according to date from the National Federation of State High School Associations. Over the five-year period from 2010-2015, the number of schools with boys’ lacrosse rose 29.5 percent and the number of girls’ programs grew 29.8 percent. Indoor track was the only other sport with a double-digit percentage increase in new teams.

The growth rates were even higher at the NCAA level. From 2010 to 2015, the number of new men’s programs grew 33.6 percent and the number of new women’s programs grew 36.6 percent.

Full Article/Survey

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Averett University (D3 VA) & Columbia College (NAIA MO) Add Lacrosse

DANVILLE, Va. — Through the support of an anonymous donor, Averett University is proud to announce the addition of three NCAA Division III varsity athletics programs — men's lacrosse, women's lacrosse and men's wrestling. All three are scheduled to begin play during the 2017-18 academic year. Averett is launching its 14th, 15th and 16th varsity programs, respectively, as part of the university's "Averett 2020" strategic plan to increase enrollment and expand the geographic diversity of its student population.

The three programs are expected to generate 90 new students within four years, which will assist Averett in its aspiration for 1,100 traditional students. "It is an exciting time at Averett University as we drive strategic growth centered on our students' success and their enhanced experience," said Dr. Tiffany M. Franks, President of Averett University.

"We are so very appreciative of this most generous gift that will help us achieve new levels of athletic and academic excellence. Adding these sports will help us to diversify our enrollment pipelines by attracting prospective students from geographical regions outside of Averett's traditionally targeted territories."

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 Columbia, Mo. – Columbia College has elected to add two new sport programs to its lineup of teams beginning in the fall of 2017. The Cougars will be adding men's lacrosse and women's bowling. "We are excited about the expansion of athletic offerings at Columbia College," stated athletic director and head men's basketball coach Bob Burchard. "Adding men's lacrosse and women's bowling allows us to further our vision of providing quality and sustai
nable opportunities for student athletes."

 Lacrosse has steadily increased in popularity over the last few years and is currently in invitational status with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and will most likely become a championship sport within the next couple years. 27 schools sponsor men's lacrosse in the NAIA.

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