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September 18, 2007

Van Zanic                                                                                                                                

Director of Sports Information

(724) 847-6886

vgzanic@geneva.edu

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 18, 2007

GENEVA ADDS INDOOR TRACK & FIELD AS VARSITY SPORTS

‘Varsity programs increased to 15 with men’s and

women’s indoor track’

Beaver Falls, PA– Geneva College experienced record growth from its incoming freshman class this fall. In fact, for the first time in school history, Geneva’s administration was forced to start a waiting list for new students. With the increased number of students and the popularity of athletics on College Hill, Geneva has decided to add two additional varsity programs in men’s and women’s indoor track and field.

“We have been talking about adding some new sports in recent years,” said athletic director Geno DeMarco. “Indoor track will give our men and women athletes some additional competitions during the winter months and will allow additional training time to prepare for the outdoor season.”

Bret Otte, who is already the head men’s and women’s outdoor track and field coach, will assume the duties of handling the indoor season as well. Otte also coaches the men’s and women’s cross country teams for Geneva in the fall. “This is an exciting time for our athletes,” said Otte. “Clearly our administration has placed a significant priority on athletics and specifically our track program,” said the 10-year head coach. “We will get the opportunity to add up to five or so more meets to our schedule during January and February, which will be huge in the continued development of our student-athletes.”

Geneva is currently enjoying its first season as a provisional member of NCAA Division III. The Golden Tornadoes are also in the midst of their first year as a new member of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference. With the addition of men’s and women’s indoor track, Geneva has now increased its varsity programs to 15, which includes eight women’s programs and seven on the men’s side.

“We have a great mix of varsity programs within our department,” said DeMarco. “Our success begins with the coaches down that hallway. We are so fortunate to have passionate people working in our athletic department who are truly dedicated to ministering to the lives of our men and women student-athletes. We have gotten great support from our administration and we will continue to look at ways of improving our programs and providing the best mix of academics and athletics to all of our kids.”

The Golden Tornadoes will open their indoor season on January 25^th at Baldwin-Wallace College. It will be the first of at least four indoor meets leading up to the NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) Indoor Championships at Cedarville University on February 23^rd.