![[VIDEO] Conference Carolinas unveils addition of Shorter University](https://cdn.socast.io/9065/sites/4/2023/01/26163300/featured-Shorter-joins-CC.jpg#aqua_resizer_image_not_local)
January 26th, 2023 – 4:15 PM
Ethan Garrett – WRGA Digital News Editor & Video Reporter –
“We are extremely excited about this historic announcement for Conference Carolinas,” Commissioner Chris Colvin said. “The addition of Shorter University allows us the opportunity to add another institution that aligns tremendously with our conference beliefs and values, while also being a first-class institution with a commitment to a strong athletics program. They also accomplish our overall goal of continuing to make our conference stronger, particularly with our recent announcement of our commitment to a three-division model in certain sports. We know they will help us continue to lead the way in the classroom, in the community, and at the highest levels of competition as we continue to strive daily to work with our member institutions to help develop champions in body, mind, and soul.”
Shorter has accepted its invitation and will officially begin competition in Conference Carolinas in the 2024-25 academic year.
The addition of Shorter will also allow Conference Carolinas to sponsor football as a conference sport for the first time since 1974-75. The conference will officially start sponsoring football in the 2025-26 academic year. Conference Carolinas football will feature Barton, Chowan, Erskine, UNC Pembroke, North Greenville, and Shorter in the 2025 season.
“This is a huge announcement for Conference Carolinas,” Colvin said. “It has been a priority for us to find a way to bring football back to Conference Carolinas, and the addition of Shorter allows us to align with our member institutions to sponsor the sport. We have a great deal of work ahead of the 2025 season, but all of us in Conference Carolinas could not be any more excited. We look forward to working with all of our member institutions as Conference Carolinas football grows and thrives in the years to come.”
Shorter sponsors 19 NCAA Division II varsity intercollegiate athletic programs. Shorter also sponsors two competitive cheerleading squads that compete nationally each year.
The Shorter University staff, students, and coaches are all thrilled to be joining Conference Carolinas,” Shorter Director of Athletics Richard Hendricks said. “Conference Carolinas has a rich history in high-achieving student-athletes while staying competitive. North Greenville University recently winning the Division II baseball national Championship is a great example of the competition Conference Carolinas encompasses, and reflects what Shorter University strives for in our athletic vision. Our main goal is to help our students find Jesus Christ in body, mind, and soul. Conference Carolinas will be a great fit for us and will serve our academic, athletic and spiritual mission well.”
Conference Carolinas announced with the addition of Young Harris College in November of 2022 a move to a three-division model in the sports of men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, and women’s volleyball.
“Adding our 14th member in Young Harris and now our 15th member in Shorter allows us to be even more strategic with our scheduling models starting in the 2024-25 academic year,” Colvin said. “We are presently working hard behind the scenes with our Board of Directors and Directors of Athletics to make the three-division model successful starting in the upcoming academic year.”