PRES RPT 2022 ONYX ANNEAU

Women’s Cross Country

Women’s Basketball

Men’s Basketball

Men’s Cross Country

Pomeroy Pride: Athletics Growth “We are a family, no matter where you come from. The whole team

Thirty years ago, the trustees and administration of Saint Mary-of-the Woods College (SMWC) bravely shifted the school’s enrollment strategy by establishing scholarship athletic programs. The purpose? To grow the College and enhance the campus experience for all students. From 1994 until 2014 SMWC’s Pomeroy Athletics program grew slowly as there was no athletic facility on campus. The program needed a significant boost to truly meet the needs of Woods students. The 2014 opening of the Jeanne Knoerle Sports and Recreation Center was the catalyst to an athletics explosion. Growth began with the addition of women’s volleyball, making it the eighth scholarship sport. One or two teams have been added each year since the 2015 decision to become fully coeducational, doubling the number to 16. With the growth and success of Pomeroy Athletics, SMWC joined the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in 2021-2022, moving

from the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) and becoming part of the River States Conference (RSC). Success was immediate. Last year, the women’s cross country and softball team won their RSC championships and appeared in NAIA nationals. Women’s volleyball went to the NAIA nationals this fall. “There is no doubt the Trustees’ vision in the mid-1990s is a reality today. Athletics is a significant factor in driving enrollment growth,” said Brennan Randolph, vice president for enrollment and institutional technology. In August, the College welcomed a record-breaking incoming class of 252 students. Among those new Pomeroys were 172 student-athletes. Their arrival helped established a historical record of 569 students in the campus program. Today, approximately 50% of campus students are athletes with 290 students on team rosters. “As the campus population grows, so

has a sense of belonging, and each has a voice, no matter their background.” —

Women’s Volleyball Coach

Ashley Harris

Softball

Men’s Soccer

Women’s Soccer

Women’s Track and Field

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