WDIA Nationals Will Have Division II Component
from press release
BALTIMORE – Starting in 2010, the US
Lacrosse Women’s Division Intercollegiate Associates (WDIA)
National Championships will include two tournaments for Divisions I
and II. Previously, the US Lacrosse WDIA only supported a
championship for Division I, which consisted of 16 teams that made
their way to the tournament via an automatic qualifier or an
at-large bid. The 2010 WDIA Division II tournament will consist of
8 teams from the Division II section of WDIA schools, starting with
an at-large selection process in 2010.
The WDIA teams will be classified by the WDIA Council as either
Division I or Division II for tournament purposes only. Division II
schools are generally smaller schools, emerging lacrosse programs
or from emerging leagues via an at-large selection process.
Teams classified as Division II may request each year to move up to
Division I. Division I teams will generally not be allowed to move
down to Division II. In 2010, the WDIA will also release preseason
and midseason polls for Division II teams. The WDIA Division I poll
will continue to be posted weekly throughout the season.
“US Lacrosse has long supported the growth of the
women’s collegiate game, both at the NCAA and club
level,” said Ann Carpenetti, women’s division director
at US Lacrosse. “Through the WDIA, competitive collegiate
women’s club lacrosse in the United States has remained a
viable and rewarding playing opportunity for thousands of young
college women who are either picking up a lacrosse stick for the
first time or want to continue playing after high school for a shot
at a national title. The growth at this level has been so
significant that US Lacrosse believes it is time to offer an
additional championship opportunity to smaller or emerging teams
outside of the top 16. We are excited about providing a first
class experience to even more WDIA teams in 2010, and look forward
to seeing who will rise to the top in this inaugural year of the
WDIA Division II Championship.”
The 2010 US Lacrosse WDIA National Championship will take place
May 5-8 in Scottsdale, Ariz. Brine is the official presenting
sponsor for the 2010 US Lacrosse WDIA National Championship.
The US Lacrosse WDIA structure consists of more than 186 college
club teams from around the country. Further information about the
WDIA is available online at www.uslacrosse.org/wdia.
US Lacrosse, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, is the national
governing body for men’s and women’s lacrosse. US
Lacrosse has more than 300,000 members in 62 regional chapters
around the country. Through responsive and effective leadership, US
Lacrosse strives to provide programs and services to inspire
participation while protecting the integrity of the game. To learn
more about US Lacrosse, visit www.uslacrosse.org.
