CHARLESTON —
Fairmont State University athletics have a new place to play.
On Monday, presidents of 12 West Virginia, Ohio and Virginia colleges — including FSU — announced the formation of an all-sports athletic conference.
The league, which has been dubbed the Mountain East Conference, will begin play in the fall of 2013.
Nine of the new league’s schools are current WVIAC members: Concord, Fairmont State, Glenville State, Shepherd, the University of Charleston, West Liberty, West Virginia State, Wheeling Jesuit and West Virginia Wesleyan. The schools from Ohio are Notre Dame College and Urbana. All are members of NCAA Division II.
The other school is Virginia-Wise, which has been accepted into the NCAA membership process and will compete in Division II in 2013 while pursuing full membership.
Virginia-Wise and Urbana had been scheduled to compete in the G-MAC beginning in 2013. Notre Dame College is a Division II independent. Five of its sports compete in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
“Fairmont State University is extremely pleased to announce its charter membership in the new 12-team Mountain East Conference,” Fairmont State University President Dr. Maria Rose said in a school-released statement. “We are excited to be part of an association with 11 other outstanding institutions in a league that will be very competitive and will extend our presence into a regional footprint.
“We look forward to continuing our games with schools such as West Virginia Wesleyan, University of Charleston, West Liberty, Shepherd, Glenville State and others, but are really excited to begin competitions with schools in Ohio and Virginia as well. We strongly believe that our charter membership in the Mountain East creates a solid foundation that secures the athletic future for all of our institutions.”
Added FSU athletic director Rusty Elliott: “This is an exciting time for Fairmont State and for Falcon athletics. We think this new conference is a move forward for our athletic department and for our school.”
With current sports sponsorship, the Mountain East Conference would meet the NCAA requirement for a conference championship in 16 sports, among them football and men’s and women’s basketball.
“We are extremely pleased to announce the formation of the Mountain East Conference,” Reid Amos, a Fairmont native who spoke on behalf of the 12 presidents of the new alliance, said. “The goal of this effort has been to align like-minded institutions with similar budgets and goals across a regional footprint. We strongly believe that our charter membership creates a solid foundation that provides mutual benefit and secures the athletic future for our institutions. We will collectively make every effort to provide a high-quality experience for our student-athletes in Mountain East competition.”
The move follows an announcement Sunday night that Alderson-Broaddus College will exit the WVIAC to join the new Great Midwest Athletic Conference next year. And Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Commissioner Steve Murray tells the Charleston Daily Mail that Pennsylvania-based WVIAC members Seton Hill and Pitt-Johnstown are expected to accept invitations to join the PSAC.
The departures would leave the current 15-team WVIAC with three members: Bluefield State, Davis & Elkins and Ohio Valley.
WVIAC commissioner Barry Blizzard declined comment Monday on the league’s prospects.
Founded in 1924, the WVIAC is one of the nation’s oldest small-college leagues.
Alderson-Broaddus joins a conference that received NCAA Division II approval earlier this year. Other G-MAC members are Cedarville, Ohio; Central State, Ohio; Kentucky Wesleyan College, Trevecca Nazarene, Tenn., and Ursuline, Ohio.
Alderson-Broaddus is adding 10 sports in the next two years, bringing its offerings to 22 teams. Football will compete as a club sport this fall and as a full-fledged sport in 2013. Because the G-MAC doesn’t sponsor football, Alderson-Broaddus has begun exploring membership for that sport in other conferences.
Fairmont State Sports
FSU to join new all-sports league
WVIAC schools, three others form Mountain East
- Fairmont State Sports
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Westchester Village holding a meet, greet
Meeting and greeting.
Westchester Village and Fairmont State University are pairing for a meet-and-greet dinner with the Fighting Falcon football coaches at Westchester Village on June 28 at 7 p.m. -
FSU’s Cooper gets international experience
Fairmont State basketball player Brendan Cooper traveled this offseason, but not the kind that results in a turnover and an earful from a coach.
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Businesses pitch in for FSU hoops camp
Fairmont State basketball coach Jerrod Calhoun was teaching the athletes about ball handling and shooting and defense during last year’s basketball camp, but one student — no more than fourth or fifth-grade — just couldn't pay attention.
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FSU’s Woodman excited for football season
It’s getting exciting in Fighting Falcon country.
Fairmont State University’s new head football coach, Jason Woodman, has some renovating ahead of him this season. -
Fairmont State signs dynamic guard
Fairmont State’s men’s basketball team has added a key player to its roster.
Shammgod Wells, a native of the Bronx, N.Y., signed his letter of intent to play basketball for Fairmont State Thursday. -
Six home games, three Thursday contests mark FSU schedule
Fairmont State University’s football schedule was far from favorable during a 4-6 2012 season.
The Falcons had only four home games — none before Sept. 22 and three on or after Oct. 13. -
East’s Summers signs to play softball at FSU
East Fairmont softball player Kayla Summers always dreamed about playing softball in college.
On Tuesday, Summers signed her letter of intent to play at Fairmont State University.
“Ever since I started playing softball, I always told my parents that I was going to go to college and play softball,” she said. -
Horton signs with Fairmont State
One Fairmont Senior basketball player’s dreams of playing in college has become a reality.
On Tuesday, Travon Horton signed his letter of intent to play basketball at Fairmont State University.
He said staying in Fairmont means a lot because of the support he has. -
FSU, MVB team up for successful tournament
The Falcons and MVB paired to complete th 21st annual MVB-Fairmont State Athletic Association Golf Tournament at the Bridgeport Country Club on Friday.
Fairmont State’s mission during the event was to sell out, so thar FSU could raise as much money as possible for the athletic department. -
Cobb named Atlantic Player of the Year
Fairmont State’s Chelsea Cobb was named the Daktronics Atlantic Region Player of the Year and outfielder Holly Frampton was a first team all-region selection. Freshman Courtney Iacobacci was a second team all-region selection.
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Westchester Village holding a meet, greet
