Women's water polo will be the 25th sport offered at Wittenberg, as the Tigers most recently added men's volleyball as an NCAA sport in 2016. The team will compete as an NCAA Division III varsity program in the spring of 2018.

 

"We are really excited to be able to increase our sport offerings and provide this new opportunity for students," said Director of Athletics Gary Williams. "As we did with men's volleyball two years ago, this is a very strategic addition by Wittenberg to invest in another swim sport that will both complement our current team and help Wittenberg attract new students from across the country.

 

"The Collegiate Water Polo Association has been an invaluable resource in helping us determine how water polo is a fit for our campus, and we are very much looking forward to joining this group of schools."

 

The athletic department is currently developing a schedule and exploring options for conference affiliation. Wittenberg administration has begun a national search for a head coach for the water polo program, who will also serve as an assistant to Head Coach Will Bernhardt for both Tiger swimming and diving programs.

 

"I am extremely excited to welcome water polo into our aquatic family here on campus," Bernhardt said.  "We can now offer a unique experience for our student-athletes that isn't present at many Division III institutions. I look for the women in both water polo and swimming and diving to have the ability to make seamless transitions from season to season. This addition will help raise our national profile rapidly with both programs.

 

"Any day you can add opportunities for students to participate in a varsity sport is a great day, and today we are lucky and honored to have it be in the water," he added. "I want to thank our AD Gary Williams and the Board of Directors for providing us the resources to make Wittenberg University the next great aquatic campus in all of Division III."