Utica University Adds Three New Varsity Sports

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Utica University Adds Three New Varsity Sports

A split image of young men wrestling on the left and a young woman performing gymnastics in the air on the right.

Men’s, Women’s Wrestling, Women’s Gymnastics Bring Number of Sports to 29

Dave Fontaine, at podium, holds up a Utica Pioneers branded t-shirt announcing three new varsity sports. President Casamento and Provost Pfannestiel stand nearby.

Utica University President Dr. Laura Casamento and Director of Athletics Dave Fontaine announced this morning that the university will add women’s gymnastics, men’s wrestling and women’s wrestling to its roster of NCAA Division III intercollegiate sports. These additions bring the total number of intercollegiate sports at Utica to 29.

All three winter season sports will begin play for the 2023-24 season. The university has begun the process of hiring coaches, and once in place, the coaches will immediately begin recruiting first-year and transfer student athletes.

“Gymnastics and wrestling are wonderful complements to our existing Olympic sport offerings and both are recognized NCAA Emerging Sports for Women,” Casamento said. “With the growing popularity of these sports, both in our region and across the state and country, we are excited to expand opportunities for athletes to compete at the college level.”

“What’s more, Utica University is committed and well positioned to provide gymnasts and wrestlers opportunities to succeed at a high level, both academically and athletically,” Casamento said.

“There are thousands of high school wrestlers and gymnasts across the country looking for the opportunity to continue to compete on the collegiate level,” said Fontaine. “Utica athletics will now be able to offer that opportunity. With the addition of men’s and women’s wrestling and women’s gymnastics, our total number of student athletes will be close to 800. This is truly an exciting time for Utica University and our athletic department.”

“The expansion of our intercollegiate sports offerings is an integral part of the university’s strategic enrollment growth,” said Jeffery Gates, senior vice president for enrollment. “Oftentimes we hear these sports as great interest of our prospective students, and now we will be able to marry the athletic and academic hopes of more students. We anticipate these three new sports will bring more than 60 students next fall.”

The university plans to utilize Valley Gymnastics as a training and practice facility.