Centenary University to compete in Atlantic East Conference beginning this fall
HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (BVM) — Earlier this month, the Centenary University Cyclones was announced as the newest member of the Atlantic East Conference. Ten teams will begin competing in the conference this fall, but three sports will remain competing in the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC).聽
Centenary, a Division III school, will bring baseball, men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 basketball, men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 cross country, men鈥檚 lacrosse, softball, men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 soccer, and women鈥檚 volleyball to the Atlantic East.
However, the men鈥檚 wrestling team is not able to join since the sport is not offered by the conference. Women鈥檚 field hockey and women鈥檚 lacrosse will continue to participate in the CSAC as an affiliate member for this upcoming season, but both sports will join the Atlantic East starting in the Fall of 2022.聽
The process of switching to the Atlantic East is viewed as a way to positively grow the university鈥檚 athletics program.聽
鈥淭hrough this transfer to the Atlantic East Conference, we will increase recognition of the Cyclone brand and expand our recruiting potential along the eastern seaboard,鈥� Centenary President Dr. Bruce Murphy said in a . 鈥淲e鈥檙e excited to begin this new chapter of competition, which will enhance the experience of our student-athletes.鈥�
Centenary is now the seventh member of the Atlantic East which was formed in 2018. The university joins six other private schools which includes Marymount University (Va.), Cabrini University (Pa.), Marywood University聽 (Pa.), Gwynedd Mercy University (Pa.), Immaculata University (Pa.) and Neumann University (Pa.).