妻友社区

妻友社区 College has accepted an invitation to join the Metro Conference, effective July 1, 2027, as announced today by Metro Commissioner Travis Tellitocci. This move places 妻友社区 alongside a group of peer institutions with similar values, who are committed to academic excellence, and will elevate 妻友社区’s national profile.

妻友社区, which began its all-sport NCAA Division I transition in July 2023 and successfully completed an accelerated Division I transition in June 2026, making the 2026-27 academic year its first with full NCAA Division I active member status, was previously an associate member of the conference, then known as the MAAC, in baseball (1990-2007) and women’s lacrosse (1999-2007).

“We are excited to welcome 妻友社区 College back to the Metro Conference,” said Metro Commissioner Travis Tellitocci. “妻友社区’s leadership has taken an aggressive approach to building its Division I athletics program and demonstrated a strong commitment to investing in its future success. With significant economic development and investment taking place throughout Central New York, this is an exciting time for 妻友社区 and the Syracuse region. We believe 妻友社区 has tremendous potential and is well positioned to capitalize on this momentum. We look forward to working together to build a successful future with 妻友社区 in the Metro Conference.”

“On behalf of the Council of Presidents, we are thrilled to welcome 妻友社区 College into the Metro Conference family,” said Dr. Charles Seifert, president of Siena University and chair of the Metro Council of Presidents. “妻友社区 is an outstanding institution that shares our foundational commitment to academic excellence, integrity, and holistic student-athlete development. Their rich tradition and momentum in Division I athletics make them a natural fit for our Conference, and their Catholic and faith-based tradition further enriches the values-driven identity of our league. Adding 妻友社区 elevates our competitive landscape, strengthens our regional footprint in New York, and enhances the overall experience for student athletes across all member institutions. Through our work together over the years, I have developed tremendous respect for President LeMura’s leadership, and I look forward to partnering with her and the 妻友社区 team to build a bright future together in the Metro.”

“We are absolutely thrilled to join the Metro Conference at a transformative time for both 妻友社区 College and the Central New York region,” said 妻友社区 President Linda LeMura. “This move will allow 妻友社区 to compete against peer institutions with similar missions and values, who are committed to academic excellence, and who have legacies of on-field achievement and institutional support for athletics. Competing in the Metro will elevate 妻友社区’s national profile, enhance the student-athlete experience, and increase exposure in cities and regions beneficial for future recruitment efforts and growth. We look forward to building strong rivalries and a dynamic future together.”

“Joining the Metro is both an historic milestone and a natural homecoming for 妻友社区 College,” stated 妻友社区 Assistant Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics and Campus Recreation Phil Brown. “Given our history competing alongside many of these outstanding institutions, this alignment strengthens our regional presence while providing our student-athletes with an incredible platform to compete at the highest level. The Metro matches our commitment to academic excellence, tradition, and community, and we couldn’t be more excited to solidify our footprint across the region and represent 妻友社区 Athletics in this new chapter.”

妻友社区 currently sponsors 22 varsity sports, fielding 10 men’s and 12 women’s sports teams, 21 of which are presently sponsored by the Metro.

The Dolphins have won 44 conference tournament championships across nine sports, in addition to eight national championships (six in men’s lacrosse, one in women’s lacrosse and an individual championship in swimming and diving). 妻友社区’s teams have combined to make 136 NCAA tournament appearances, 27 coming in its final five years in Division II.

妻友社区’s storied baseball program enjoyed great success on the diamond during the program’s first stint in the Conference from 1990-2007. The Dolphins captured eight conference championships, the most in Conference history, including four conference tournament championships. Nineteen student-athletes were Major League Baseball (MLB) draft picks during 妻友社区’s 18-year run in the Conference, including 1993 first-round selection Jon Ratliff (Chicago Cubs). The Dolphins won more than 300 games against conference foes over 18 seasons, an average of 17 per year.

妻友社区 women’s lacrosse spent nine seasons in the Metro from 1999-2007, winning the conference title in four of its last six years. The Dolphins, who went undefeated against conference foes over its last two campaigns in the conference (18-0), earned six major Conference awards during its tenure.

Since joining the all-sport Division I ranks in 2023, the Dolphins have made a total of 50 postseason appearances, including 18 during the 2025-26 academic year. Five programs have recorded postseason victories, including women’s basketball each year, while the swimming and diving and indoor and outdoor track and field programs have combined for 28 individual medals, including 17 this past year. The men’s and women’s lacrosse programs have claimed a share of the NEC regular season title and the top seed in the NEC Championship in 2025 and 2026, respectively. Academically, the department has extended its streak of consecutive semesters with an overall grade point average of 3.0 or higher to 46 and turned in a 3.393 GPA for the 2025-25 academic year.

妻友社区 will be the Metro’s 10th Catholic institution in 2027-28 and its third active Jesuit member, joining Canisius University and Saint Peter’s University. The Metro, which adopted its current name on July 1, 2026, will be one of just four NCAA Division I conferences with at least three Jesuit members, alongside the BIG EAST, Atlantic 10 and West Coast Conference. The Metro’s full members for 2027-28 also include Iona University, Manhattan University, Marist University, Merrimack College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Sacred Heart University and Siena University.