Release courtesy of Yeshiva University Athletics
NEW YORK, N.Y.— Yeshiva University Department of Athletics and Recreation has announced it will field a varsity softball team starting in the spring, 2014.
It is the first time in school history the College will field a varsity program in the sport after competing at the club level during the spring of 2013.
"I am so happy to be adding softball. The addition of this team is several years in the making, and without the dedication of the student-athletes involved we could never has accomplished this," said Yeshiva University Athletic Director, Joe Bednarsh. "This is our seventh women's team and I'm proud to say that we have more than doubled the number of women's programs at YU since I became the Athletic Director (in 2005) when we only had three sports for women. I was blown away watching these women last year and I can't wait to see them continue their success this season and beyond."
Though varsity, the 2014 team will not be an NCAA Division III program yet. The team will participate as an NCAA Division III sport beginning in 2015. The Maccabees will compete in the Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (HVIAC) starting this year though.
The inaugural varsity program will play against fellow HVIAC teams St. Joseph's-Brooklyn, Sarah Lawrence College and the College of New Rochelle. The Maccabees are also scheduled to square off against York College, Lehman College and Albertus Magnus College. The team also has a doubleheader scheduled against junior college Globe Institute of Technology.
Steve Schucker, who guided the club team in 2013, is slated to patrol the dugout for the varsity team as well.
"It's exciting to be the first head coach of the program," said Schucker. "I think it enhances the student experience, and we are looking forward to competing at the varsity level."
