Athletic teams at Pennsylvania College of Technology − along with other members of the Penn State University Athletic Conference − will join the ranks of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association beginning with the 2008-09 academic year, allowing all to compete for national championships.
For the USCAA, the addition of the 10 PSUAC schools will bring its membership total to more than 60. In addition to Penn College (a special mission affiliate of Penn State) the PSUAC members joining the USCAA are: Penn State Abington, Penn State Brandywine, Penn State Hazleton, Penn State Lehigh Valley, Penn State Mont Alto, Penn State Schuylkill, Penn State Wilkes-Barre, Penn State Worthington Scranton and Penn State York.
Penn State Beaver, Penn State New Kensington, Penn State Fayette, Penn State DuBois and Penn State Greater Allegheny already are members of the USCAA.
"This is a wonderful opportunity for our student athletes to receive the recognition and gain the opportunities they deserve," said Penn College President Davie Jane Gilmour. "Athletics enrich the overall college experience, and we welcome the spirit of competition that will be fostered through membership in the USCAA."
"We look forward to having our entire Penn State University Athletic Conference join the USCAA," said PSUAC Director John Fritz. "The fact that five of our Penn State campuses are current members, and the positive experiences they have enjoyed, made it an easy decision for us to join as a conference beginning with the 200809 academic year. We especially look forward to our teams having the opportunity to compete for national championships and for our student athletes to receive the national academic and athletic recognition that the USCAA provides."
The 15 PSUAC colleges have been recognized by the USCAA as a conference. The PSUAC conference champion for each sport will be awarded an automatic bid to each USCAA Championship event.
"The USCAA is very excited and proud to welcome the PSUAC to our association," said USCAA Commissioner Bill Casto. "A group of this size is sure to make a significant impact in the association, and we look forward to providing them with as many opportunities as possible."
"By increasing our membership, we are furthering our goal to professionalize the organization and significantly improve the quality of our championship events," Casto added. "This is a stepping stone for many great things to come for this association in the next few years."
"I am pleased that the chancellors (PSUAC) have chosen to join our association," said USCAA President Dave Gonyea. "This is truly a win-win opportunity that I think will benefit both the PSUAC as a conference and the USCAA as a whole. ... The USCAA will make every effort to provide vast opportunities for these schools and place great value in their efforts."
For more information about the Newport News, Va.-based USCAA, visit online.
Penn College Athletics offers 15 intercollegiate varsity teams with open tryouts and four-year eligibility for athletes. Wildcat teams won five conference championships and took two seconds in 2006-07. Overall, they posted 181 wins, 81 losses and two ties for a .686 winning percentage.
Men's sports offered at Penn College are baseball, basketball, cross-country, soccer and volleyball. Women's sports teams at the college are basketball, cross-country, soccer, softball and volleyball. Coed sports offered at Penn College are archery, bowling, dance team, golf and tennis.
"This is the next step in the evolution of intercollegiate athletics at Penn College," said Mike J. Stanzione, the college's director of athletics. "Membership in the USCAA will enable our student athletes to compete on the national level beginning in the 2008-09 academic year."
For more information about Penn College Athletics, visit on the Web.