Western Connecticut State University
Department of Athletics and Recreation

 

Athletics
The men and women both belong to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III. The football program is a member of the New Jersey Athletic Conference. The 13 other intercollegiate athletic programs are members of the Little East Conference. In addition, the men’s and women’s programs hold membership in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC).
The University belongs to conferences and associations appropriate to the specific athletic activity program.
The department supervises and coordinates intramural and recreational activities.

National Prominence
Recent years have seen Western’s teams qualify for post-season NCAA National Tournament play in women’s basketball (10), men’s basketball (10), men's soccer (eight) years, softball (eight), women's volleyball (six), women's soccer (five) football (1985, 1999 and 2001), and baseball (in 2002). Softball advanced to the Division III National Championships in 2002.

Regional Prominence
Both basketball teams have also qualified for post-season regional championships sponsored by the ECAC, as have the volleyball and baseball (five times), softball (six) and women's soccer (four) teams. Western's football team captured the ECAC Northeast Title in 2000. The men’s basketball team were the 1994 ECAC North and 2004 New England Champions, the women's hoop team captured the ECAC New England Crown in 1999 and the softball team took home the ECAC North Crown in 1997. The women's soccer team was crowned ECAC New England Champions in 2004.

Student Participation
Nearly 350 student-athletes compete as part of Western’s intercollegiate athletic program each year.

Club Sports
 Club sports are formed by groups of a minimum of 20 individuals who share a common athletic interest, organize and collectively pursue this activity.  Club sports are organized on recreational, instructional, and competitive levels and their activities range from informal play to a regular practice or instruction and intercollegiate and tournament competition.  Some clubs hire instructors and/or coaches and competition clubs receive funding from the Intramural and Recreation Department. 
 Club sports allow students to participate in intercollegiate competition without the demands of playing at a varsity level.  Many of the clubs compete with other schools, and are part of a collegiate league of play.  Each club was created in response to student interest and is run by students.

Active clubs include but are not limited to:  dance team, men’s rugby (information on men's and women's rugby can be found at:)  www.WCSURUGBY.com, men’s volleyball and men’s ice hockey.  All the information on Western's men's hockey club can be found at:   http://home.earthlink.net/~wcsuhockey/

Cheerleading
In 2001, cheerleading returned from a hiatus and is getting stronger every semester.   The all-female cheerleading squad is advised by Debbie Bisaccia.  If you are interested in trying out for the cheerleading team, contact Debbie at: (203) 775-2424 or by sending an email to:  WCSUcheerleading@yahoo.com.  WestConn also sponsors a Dance Team which performs at home football and basketball games.
 

Intramurals
 With the opening of the William A. O’Neill Athletic and Convocation Center, the intra-murals program at Western has been greatly expanded.  Intramural programs sponsored including: flag football, 3 on 3 and 5 on 5 basketball, floor hockey, indoor soccer, a softball tournament and a mini triathlon.  Other non-competitive programs offered include: step aerobics, kick-boxing aerobics and several health and fitness seminars.  The intramural programs’ aim is to give the student as much variety and as many opportunities as possible to enhance fitness, personal skills and enjoyment.

Recreation
 Like the intramural program, the recreation department has grown considerably.  The William A. O’Neill Athletic and Convocation Center, on the school’s Westside Campus, Bill Williams Gymnasium, and Midtown Campus Field allow the University to sponsor a large number of activities on both campuses.  The O'Neill Center houses a six-lane natatorium, a four-lane indoor running track, and four full basketball/tennis/volleyball courts.