WNMU Athletics to Join Lone Star Conference Fall 2016

Category: Community News Community News
Published: 30 April 2015 30 April 2015

Silver City, NM - Western New Mexico University will join the Lone Star Conference (LSC) as a full member beginning the fall of 2016.

"The move from the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference to the Lone Star Conference allows our student-athletes to continue having a great athletic experience, while traveling less," said Dr. Joseph Shepard, WNMU President. "The Lone Star Conference has an outstanding history of sportsmanship and competitive play at the Division II national level."

The Mustangs have participated with the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference since 2007. During that time, several programs including golf and tennis have earned conference titles and made post-season appearances.

"We are very pleased to join the Lone Star Conference. It has tremendous history and is considered one of the most competitive conferences in the country," said Mark Coleman, WNMU Director of Athletics. "The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference is a first class organization with great people within the conference office as well as at the various colleges and universities. This made the decision very difficult but we feel this move is in the best interest of our student-athletes."

The Mustangs currently participate in men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's golf, men's and women's tennis, football, softball and volleyball. All programs would continue to participate under the new conference. Additional programs that participate in the conference include soccer, baseball, and indoor and outdoor track and field.

The LSC was founded in 1931 and is known today as a leader in intercollegiate athletics. Universities that participate in the conference include Angelo State University, Cameron University, Eastern New Mexico University, Midwestern State University, Tarleton State University, Texas A&M University-Commerce, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Texas Woman's University and West Texas A&M University.

In 2016, The University of Texas of the Permian Basin will also be conference participants. Additionally, Oklahoma Panhandle State University is joining in 2016 as an affiliate member in football.

"We are extremely pleased to have a program with great athletic and academic traditions in WNMU joining the Lone Star Conference," said Dr. Brian May, Angelo State University President and chair of the Lone Star Conference President's Council.

Jay Poerner, LCS Interim Commissioner, expressed his eagerness for WNMU's entry to the conference.

"We are very excited to welcome Western New Mexico University to the Lone Star Conference," said Poerner. "Western New Mexico is a quality institution with great leadership that will further strengthen our membership."

Entering the 2014-2015 season, member institutions of the Lone Star Conference have collected 75 NCAA national championships.

The Mustangs will continue to participate in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference through the 2015-2016 school year.

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