BATESVILLE — Lyon College will join the American Midwest Conference effective July 1. Competition will begin in all sports for the 2012-13 academic year.
The American Midwest Conference Council of Presidents voted unanimously to admit Lyon to the conference. The addition of Lyon will increase AMC membership to 10 institutions. Most of the AMC schools are in Missouri; one is in Illinois and another in Arkansas.
“While Lyon has enjoyed its association with the colleges in the TranSouth for over a decade, we are excited about our move to the AMC,” Lyon President Donald Weatherman said. “We are delighted to receive an invitation to jointhis fine group of colleges and universities and look forward to developing healthy rivalries within this new conference.”
With the move to the AMC, Lyon is ending its affiliation with the TranSouth Athletic Conference, which Lyon joined in 1997, competing against schools mostly in Tennessee. The TranSouth has been losing members, however, with Union University, Cumberland University and Trevecca Nazarene University scheduled to leave the conference after this year.
Lyon Athletic Director Kevin Jenkins explained that a conference must have at least six members competing in a sport in order to qualify for postseason tournaments. With the loss of the three members this year, only six schools would remain, but not all of them compete in all varsity sports.
“We believe the American Midwest Conference will provide us with more stability and allow our athletes to compete in postseason play,” Jenkins said. “We are excited about the opportunity to join the AMC, which will provide great competition for all our teams and allow each sport to compete in conference championships immediately.”
AMC Commissioner Lowell Pitzer said, “I am pleased to officially welcome Lyon to the AMC family on behalf of our presidents, athletics directors, students and fans. Lyon is an outstanding academic institution with a strong athleticprogram. We look forward to having the Scots compete in our league starting in 2012.”
The Scots sponsor nine varsity sports. Men’s sports include baseball, basketball, golf and soccer. Women’s sports include basketball, golf, soccer, softball and volleyball.
Lyon participates in everysport sponsored by the AMC except men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s indoor track and field, and men’s and women’s outdoor track and field.
Members of the AMC are Benedictine University in Springfield, Ill.; Columbia College in Columbia, Mo.;Hannibal-LaGrange University in Hannibal, Mo.; Harris-Stowe State University in St. Louis; Missouri Baptist University in St. Louis; Park University in Parkville, Mo.; Stephens College in Columbia, Mo.; William Woods University in Fulton, Mo.; and Williams Baptist College in Walnut Ridge.
Three Rivers, Pages 126 on 03/25/2012