DETROIT, Sept. 23, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Marygrove College just added five new sports and nearly 60 new athletes to its campus for the 2009-2010 school year -- a change that represents a 70 percent increase in athletic teams and a 50 percent increase in student-athletes.
Marygrove's athletic program began in the fall of 2000 with men's basketball. The program was developed to add to the student life experience and as a way to increase male enrollment at the College. A year later, the women's basketball program was developed and the two teams comprised the Marygrove Athletics Program for the following eight years.
As Marygrove's two teams became more established and more successful, Dave Sichterman, Marygrove's athletic director, decided it was time to expand the athletic program. This year, Marygrove added five new teams: men and women's soccer, men and women's cross country, and women's volleyball.
"While implementing and expanding the Mustang Athletic Program I have been, and always will be mindful of the College's mission of educating our students by the guiding principles of Competence, Commitment and Compassion, and I've integrated these principles into our athletic program," said Sichterman. "Because Marygrove is also committed to developing students into the next generation of urban leaders, being a student-athlete is a wonderful way to gain leadership skills."
Last fall the Marygrove Mustang teams moved into the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The NAIA, the nation's oldest athletic association, has approximately 300 member institutions across the U.S. and Canada. Marygrove was the ninth school in the state of Michigan to join the NAIA (www.naia.org).
A primary reason for joining the NAIA was their Champions of Character Program (C of C). The Champions of Character Program was developed because the NAIA recognized deteriorating values and conduct in sport. In 2000, the organization implemented the C of C program and has made it a mission to change the culture of sport in society by promoting character and leadership development. The five core values of the C of C program are Respect, Responsibility, Integrity, Servant Leadership and Sportsmanship. While sports cannot necessarily teach character, they provide an arena where positive values can be promoted, learned, practiced and developed.
Each NAIA institution is asked to put character development at the forefront of its athletic program by educating its coaches and student-athletes and to reach out to other sport and non-sport organizations to promote positive personal qualities and values. Marygrove's Mustang Athletic Program goes one step further by becoming a Champions of Character Program Center for its region. This center is a resource for on- and off-campus groups to learn about the benefits of character and leadership development.
"Developing character and leadership qualities is one of my top priorities," said Sichterman. "Today we see so many student athletes that excel in their sport, but are sorely lacking in behaviors that make for good role models for younger children. My goal is to develop great athletes who are also great students and good people -- the kind of adults who will make a positive difference in the world."
For more information about the Marygrove Mustang Athletic Program, contact Dave Sichterman at (313) 927-1391, dsichterman@marygrove.edu or www.marygrovemustangs.com.
ABOUT MARYGROVE COLLEGE
Founded by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) in 1927, Marygrove College is an independent liberal arts college and a Catholic institution of higher learning committed to developing leaders for the new global society.
The main campus is situated on 53 wooded acres in northwest Detroit. 8425 W. McNichols Rd., Detroit, MI 48221
Web site: www.marygrove.edu
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