Centennial Conference
| Centennial Conference | |
|---|---|
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| Data | |
| Classification | NCAA Division III |
| Established | 1981 |
| Members | 11 |
| Sports fielded | 24 (12 men's, 12 women's) |
| Region | Mid-Atlantic |
| States | 2 - Maryland, Pennsylvania |
| Headquarters | Lancaster, Pennsylvania |
| Commissioner | Steve Ulrich |
| Locations | |
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The Centennial Conference is an athletic conference which competes in the NCAA's Division III. Member teams are located in Maryland and Pennsylvania.
Conference Background
Eleven highly selective private colleges compose the Centennial Conference. Most institutions are renowned nationally for their traditions in higher education excellence, each with impressive academic histories.
According to the Centennial Conference's web site: "On June 4, 1981, Keith Spalding, then-president of Franklin & Marshall College, made the announcement that "eight private colleges found it timely and appropriate to form a round-robin football schedule among institutions with similar attitudes and practices in intercollegiate football competition." With that statement, the Centennial Conference was born.
The Conference moved from a football only conference to an all-sports conference after a 1991 feasibility study. The study also recommended to expand from eight schools to eleven. The other schools recommended were Bryn Mawr College, Haverford College and Washington College. Those three schools accepted and became Charter members in 1992 as the conference expanded its sports offerings.
All of the charter members defected from the Middle Atlantic Conference.
On the average, Centennial members boast of 19 varsity teams per campus which is well above the national norm. They are also competitive nationally in athletics with the conference members have won five NCAA team titles - Franklin & Marshall women's lacrosse (2007), Ursinus field hockey (2006) and Washington's men's lacrosse (1998) and men's tennis (1994, 1997) teams.
Conference Members
Current members
| Institution | Location | Founded | Enrollment | Affiliation | Joined | Nickname |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bryn Mawr College | Bryn Mawr, PA | 1885 | 1,890 | Private | 1992 | Owls |
| Dickinson College | Carlisle, PA | 1783 | 2,381 | Private | 1981 | Red Devils |
| Franklin & Marshall College | Lancaster, PA | 1787 | 2,104 | Private | 1981 | Diplomats |
| Gettysburg College | Gettysburg, PA | 1832 | 2,497 | Private/Lutheran | 1981 | Bullets |
| Haverford College | Haverford, PA | 1833 | 1,169 | Private | 1992 | Fords |
| Johns Hopkins University | Baltimore, MD | 1876 | 4,478 | Private | 1981 | Blue Jays |
| McDaniel College | Westminster, MD | 1867 | 3,641 | Private | 1981 | Green Terror |
| Muhlenberg College | Allentown, PA | 1848 | 2,457 | Private/Lutheran | 1981 | Mules |
| Swarthmore College | Swarthmore, PA | 1864 | 1,491 | Private | 1981 | Garnet |
| Ursinus College | Collegeville, PA | 1869 | 1,583 | Private | 1981 | Bears |
| Washington College | Chestertown, MD | 1782 | 1,285 | Private | 1992 | Shoremen, Shorewomen |
Teams compete in men's and women's cross country, field hockey, football, men's and women's soccer, women's volleyball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's swimming, men's and women's track and field, wrestling, baseball, men's and women's golf, men's and women's lacrosse, softball and men's and women's tennis.