As Wells College prepares to launch its inaugural basketball season next fall, it has invested in a portable gym floor for use by the entire campus community, especially the newly formed men’s and women’s basketball teams. The new floor is expected to arrive on campus in mid-April.

“This gym floor shows the commitment that our administration is making to support our athletic programs,” said Head Men’s Basketball Coach Joe Wojtylko. “The new floor will allow us to make maximum use of our facilities and will enhance our play at the NCAA Division III level. We are very excited about it.” 

Wells has contracted with Praters Incorporated of Chattanooga, Tenn.  Prater has recently constructed gym floors for the University of Florida, the NBA 2008 All-Star game, the 2004 Olympic Games, and the Atlanta Hawks, as well as numerous other college and professional teams. 

Once on campus, the floor will be installed in the Farenthold facility attached to the Schwartz Athletic Center, which will serve as the home venue for the Wells basketball teams starting next season. 

“Bringing in a portable floor for our students is a wonderful investment in the future of athletics at Wells,” said Director of Athletics Jamey Ventura. “Not only will our student athletes be able to practice and compete on our own campus, the floor will be available to all Wells students and the entire community to participate in extra-curricular activities.”

Along with the floor, there are plans in place to add over the summer a new scoreboard, bleachers, and scorers table to the Schwartz Athletic Center. These improvements will complete the renovations necessary to launch Wells’ inaugural basketball season in fall 2008. 
 
 

Aurora, New York – Wells College announces plans to add women’s and men’s basketball teams beginning in the 2008-09 academic year. The men’s basketball program, led by head coach Joe Wojtylko, will begin competing at the intercollegiate level in October 2008. The women’s program will be offered at the club level during the first year, and will elevate to the intercollegiate level in the 2009-2010 season.

“I am pleased by this latest addition to our athletics program,” says Director of Athletics for Recruitment and Retention Jamey Ventura. “Adding basketball to our athletics program provides more opportunities for our student-athletes and introduces an exciting spectator sport for our entire community to enjoy during the cold winter months.”

Wells College is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III member and joined the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) in Fall 2007. The College currently offers intercollegiate teams for women in field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, and tennis. In fall 2005, as Wells transitioned to coeducation, the College introduced men’s soccer and swimming, and a cross country team for both men and women. Men’s lacrosse will debut at the intercollegiate level this spring. 

“This is a great time for athletics at Wells College,” said Ventura. “We have a dedicated coaching staff that is working hard to recruit the best student-athletes to Wells. At the Division III level, student-athletes are choosing a college that can provide them with an excellent education; when we add in the opportunity to continue playing varsity athletics, we enhance their overall college experience. The bond these student-athletes will form at Wells College with their teammates, coaches, professors, and peers create a tremendous learning experience and memories that will last a lifetime.”

The College continues to develop plans for additional sport sponsorship that are inclusive of both men and women, and meet the needs of college students today. 

To advance its athletics programs, Wells offers a variety of indoor and outdoor athletic facilities. The Schwartz Athletic Center houses a swimming pool, gymnasium, and two tennis courts; a state-of-the-art fitness center opened in fall 2006. Outdoor facilities include four newly rebuilt tennis courts, softball field, boathouse, a 9-hole golf course, and game fields for field hockey, soccer, and lacrosse. New cross country running trails have been designed and will be developed this year. 
 
 

The NEAC has accepted SUNY Cobleskill and SUNY Institute of Technology as full-members to the conference beginning in the 2008-2009 academic year.

SUNY Cobleskill is located in Cobleksill, NY and was recently accepted to the NCAA and will begin NCAA DIII provisional membership in 2008-2009 at the same time they join the NEAC.  SUNY Cobleskill will be leaving behind many years of junior college athletics as they leave the National Junior College Athletic Association level.  They will be embarking on their new journey as a member of the NEAC where they will find support from other colleges who recently made a similar transition. 

SUNY Institute of Technology is located in Utica, NY and a current member of the SUNYAC but has made a bold move to join the NEAC.  In doing so, SUNY IT has made a commitment to give their student-athletes a quality athletic program through competition with similar institutions.  They have a wide array of athletic programs and are also a long time member of the NCAA Division III. 

The NEAC will be losing Keystone College and Philadelphia Biblical University at the conclusion of 2007-2008.

In 2008-2009, the NEAC membership will be at 10 strong including: Baptist Bible College (Clark Summit, PA), Cazenovia College (Cazenovia, NY), D’Youville College (Buffalo, NY), Keuka College (Keuka, NY), Penn State – Berks (Reading, PA), Penn State Harrisbug (Harrisburg, PA), SUNY Cobleskill (Cobleskill, NY), SUNY Institute of Technology (Utica, NY), Wells College (Aurora, NY), and Wilson College (Chambersburg, PA).  The NEAC will continue to sponsor baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s golf, men’s and women’s lacrosse (new in 2008-2009), men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s tennis, and women’s volleyball.  The NEAC will look to add other sports that fit the new membership profile.