On Sept. 1, Penn State Altoona's sports program officially made the transition from a PCAA college to a NCAA Division III competitor and a member of the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference.
As a result of the move, Penn State Altoona will add a varsity swim team and move its baseball schedule from the spring to the fall. After winning championships in men's and women's basketball and women's volleyball last season, coaches have started to recruit a higher calibre of talent and are excited about the transition.
Penn State Altoona's varsity athletics program consist of men's and women's basketball, women's volleyball, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's swimming, and baseball.
Allen Meadors, CEO and dean of Penn State Altoona, believes the move up is a natural fit for a college that recently became a four-year institution and whose sports program continues to thrive.
As a member of the conference, which officially formed a year ago, Penn State Altoona is allowed to compete with its other six members, but only women's tennis may compete in team championship play until the fall of 1999.
"This growth will provide all students the full collegiate experience. Student athletes now have the opportunity to stay and compete for four years and transfer students from other institutions can use their remaining eligibility at Penn State Altoona," said Fredina Ingold, Penn State Altoona athletic director.
The six charter members of the conference are Frostburg State University in Maryland; Lake Erie College in Ohio; La Roche College in Pennsylvania; Penn State Erie; the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford; and the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg.