SAC announces addition of three schools as associate members
Oct 28, 2016
The Sooner Athletic Conference has announced that the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has agreed with its proposal to allow three new schools the opportunity to experience conference competition and the excitement of automatic qualification as associate members in the sport of women’s golf.
SAC Commissioner Stan Wagnon announced that the University of St. Thomas, University of Houston-Victoria, and the University of the Southwest have been approved by the NAIA National Administrative Council and will begin competing for conference championships in the sport of women’s golf effective in the 2016-17 season.
"This is terrific news for the SAC, and we are excited to welcome these three institutions as associate members,” Wagnon said. “This move provides immediate benefit to student-athletes, enhances our championship experience, and adds value to what we believe is one of the NAIA's most competitive conferences for women's golf."
The three schools will join Oklahoma City University, Wayland Baptist University, Texas Wesleyan University, Southwestern Christian University, and St. Gregory’s University as part of an eight-team field.
“The NAIA intercollegiate athletic programs at the University of the Southwest, St. Thomas University and the University of Houston - Victoria are most appreciative of having been granted associate memberships for our respective women’s golf programs within the Sooner Athletic Conference,” commented USW Vice President for Institutional Development and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics William Weidner. “This opportunity for each of our women’s golf programs to join the SAC will provide our women’s golf student-athletes with great competition as well as an automatic berth into the NAIA National Tournament. We are looking forward to having our women’s golf programs begin their partnership with the Sooner Athletic Conference as associate members with great enthusiasm.”
SAC schools have won eight NAIA golf championships over the years, the last of which was in 2014 by Oklahoma City.
Beyond participation in the SAC championship tournament, St. Thomas, Houston-Victoria, and Southwest will have voting privileges in all conference matters relating specifically to women's golf. Student-athletes at the three schools are immediately eligible to earn conference academic and athletic achievement awards, and the schools will benefit from administrative services and support the SAC regularly provides to its membership.
SAC Commissioner Stan Wagnon announced that the University of St. Thomas, University of Houston-Victoria, and the University of the Southwest have been approved by the NAIA National Administrative Council and will begin competing for conference championships in the sport of women’s golf effective in the 2016-17 season.
"This is terrific news for the SAC, and we are excited to welcome these three institutions as associate members,” Wagnon said. “This move provides immediate benefit to student-athletes, enhances our championship experience, and adds value to what we believe is one of the NAIA's most competitive conferences for women's golf."
The three schools will join Oklahoma City University, Wayland Baptist University, Texas Wesleyan University, Southwestern Christian University, and St. Gregory’s University as part of an eight-team field.
“The NAIA intercollegiate athletic programs at the University of the Southwest, St. Thomas University and the University of Houston - Victoria are most appreciative of having been granted associate memberships for our respective women’s golf programs within the Sooner Athletic Conference,” commented USW Vice President for Institutional Development and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics William Weidner. “This opportunity for each of our women’s golf programs to join the SAC will provide our women’s golf student-athletes with great competition as well as an automatic berth into the NAIA National Tournament. We are looking forward to having our women’s golf programs begin their partnership with the Sooner Athletic Conference as associate members with great enthusiasm.”
SAC schools have won eight NAIA golf championships over the years, the last of which was in 2014 by Oklahoma City.
Beyond participation in the SAC championship tournament, St. Thomas, Houston-Victoria, and Southwest will have voting privileges in all conference matters relating specifically to women's golf. Student-athletes at the three schools are immediately eligible to earn conference academic and athletic achievement awards, and the schools will benefit from administrative services and support the SAC regularly provides to its membership.
