In part with the 2020 plan, junior varsity is coming to Pacific starting in 2014.
Boxer Athletics is hoping having junior varsity baseball, softball and men and women’s basketball will help fulfill the university’s goal for 2,000 undergraduate and 2,000 graduate students by the year 2020.
“Athletics has played a large role in undergraduate growth.” said Director of Athletics, Ken Schumann. “This is partially an enrollment initiative to reach that goal.”
He said the goal is for 50 new recruits to join these new programs, being top quality students.
But that’s not all of it.
“It’ll put more pressure on our facility, increase pressure to expand,” said Schumann.
With more students using the Stoller Athletic Center, Schumann said he thinks this will put more pressure on administration to pay attention to the needs of the center.
Expansion is needed, he said, and these programs might be the extra bit needed to make the changes happen.
At it’s core, it’s about the game.
“It gives the varsity program depth,” said Schumann.
Eligibility requirements are the same across the board, but the schedule for junior varsity is different.
“There’s not as extensive of a schedule,” said Schumann.
While varsity baseball, for example, plays about 40 games, junior varsity will play between 16 and 20.
“There’s not as extensive practices either,” said Schumann. “The time commitment is not as intense.”
Schumann said the courts and fields will be shared appropriately so everyone has necessary time to practice.
Junior varsity teams give incoming freshmen the chance to play at a college level, he said.
Linfield College has a junior varsity baseball team as well as basketball teams and softball.
George Fox University is another school with baseball and softball.
Pacific’s junior varsity teams will also play community colleges and smaller private colleges such as New Hope Christian College.
All the coaches are hired and are currently out on the road recruiting. Their primary responsibility right now is to recruit student athletes, said Schumann.
The junior varsity season will start in the winter of 2014.
“It’ll be a neat thing.” said Schumman. “It brings additional high quality students to Pacific.”
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