Posted by
Chris Wells
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Thu, Jun 18, 2009
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MSC
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The Mid-South Conference announced the addition of its 10th full member on Thursday following a unanimous vote for the conference presidents. Shawnee State University is scheduled to join the MSC beginning with the 2010-11 season.
"We are incredibly excited to welcome Shawnee State into our conference," MSC Commissioner Mike Pollio said. "Following our recent visit to Shawnee State, it was obvious the administration, coaches and student-athletes align perfectly with our current institutions' goals both in the classroom and on the field of competition.
"Shawnee State will only enhance our conference and we enthusiastically welcome its teams and fans to the Mid-South Conference."
Shawnee State is the fourth full member to join the conference in the last two years. St. Catharine College just completed its first full season in the conference and the University of Rio Grande will make its debut beginning this fall. The University of Virginia's College at Wise -- who is currently a member of the MSC as a football-only school -- will join Shawnee State in 2010 to take the conference full members to double digits.
Campbellsville University, University of the Cumberlands, Georgetown College, Lindsey Wilson College, Pikeville College and West Virginia University Institute of Technology make up the remaining members of the conference.
Shawnee State announced its intent earlier this summer to withdraw from the American Mideast Conference following the upcoming season.
"We have enjoyed our time in the AMC having developed some great friendships and rivalries with numerous teams throughout the conference," SSU Athletic Director Jeff Hamilton said. "However we felt it was the right time to start looking at an alternative conference as more and more teams are looking elsewhere.
"We are extremely happy to have the opportunity to join the Mid-South Conference," Hamilton said. "We have a great deal of respect for the schools that comprise the MSC. Currently many of our teams play against these schools and we look forward in having a chance to compete with them in conference action"
Shawnee State sponsors 11 MSC sports: baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's golf, men's and women's soccer, softball, women's tennis and volleyball. The Bears will be eligible for postseason play in all sports in their first season of MSC competition.
Shawnee State is located in Portsmouth, Ohio.
The Mid-South Conference -- including institutions that participate in only football in the conference -- has 17 member institutions in seven states.
