Photo Courtesy of betteratbeach.com
For the first time in decades Southwestern College is adding new sports to its lineup of intercollegiate teams. Women’s flag football debuts later this year followed by women’s beach volleyball in 2027. These additions would increase the number of intercollegiate sports to 19.
Women’s collegiate sports have grown steadily since the revolutionary Title IX legislation of 1972 that mandated equal opportunities for women in higher education, but with the exception of its dynastic women’s soccer team, SWC women’s sports have struggled in recent years to fill rosters. Two years ago Southwestern failed to field a women’s basketball team. Women’s cross-country and tennis—once annual state champion contenders—have struggled since COVID. Southwestern’s lack of a track and the remodeling of the pool area have handicapped track and field, swim, dive and water polo.
Valenzuela said flag football, lacrosse, beach volleyball, women’s wrestling and field hockey are popular in high schools but not offered at SWC.
“We’re not in a position to add all of those sports, we have to be intentional,” he said. “We have to be strategic in terms of the expansion.”
