BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — Following a tenure in the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA), the Mercyhurst University water polo teams return to the men’s Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC) and women’s Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA), respectively, following a vote of the CWPA Board of Directors based on a petition to immediately readmit the Lakers to membership for the 2024-25 season.
A familiar institution to MAWPC and CWPA followers, the Mercyhurst women’s water polo team joined with Gannon University, Salem University and McKendree University as members of the exclusively Division II WWPA for the 2015-16 season. The Lakers, Golden Knights, Tigers and Bearcats men’s programs departed the MAWPC for the WWPA in February 2023. However, with Mercyhurst’s decision to evolve from Division II to Division I in all athletics programs, the Lakers will immediately join the MAWPC and CWPA for the 2024-25 academic year.
“I am excited to see Mercyhurst return to the MAWPC and CWPA,” stated MAWPC/CWPA Commissioner Dan Sharadin. “They began their varsity tenure with our conference back in 2001 and with the exception of the past several seasons in the WWPA, most of their history was made competing against our member institutions. It’s a great program with excellent leadership and a perfect fit for our schools.”
In men’s competition, the Lakers – which announced the program’s decision to join the WWPA on February 20, 2023 – becomes the eighth member of the MAWPC as the Lakers join Bucknell University, Fordham University, George Washington University, Johns Hopkins University, Mount St. Mary’s University, the United States Naval Academy and Wagner College. The division format is different compared to Mercyhurst’s last appearance in the MAWPC as the MAWPC-West Region was eliminated following the election of the Lakers, Gannon, McKendree and Salem to head west to the WWPA. Due to the proximity of the men’s season, the Lakers will not compete in a league home game this fall, but will contest a regular slate of home contests in future seasons.
An updated MAWPC schedule – including Mercyhurst – is anticipated for release later this week.
“Mercyhurst water polo is excited to be returning to our roots by rejoining the MAWPC and CWPA,” stated head coach Blair MacDougall.
The Lakers women’s team becomes the seventh institution in the CWPA Women’s Division I league as Mercyhurst returns to the fold against Brown University, Bucknell, Harvard University, the University of Michigan, Princeton University and Saint Francis University. The 16-team CWPA women’s membership is divided into Division I and Division III regular season and championship formats as Augustana College, Austin College, Carthage College, Connecticut College, Grove City College, Macalester College, Penn State Behrend, Washington & Jefferson College and Wheaton College forgo competing for the league’s National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championship berth to contest an exclusively Division III league and championship schedule.
A 2025 women’s schedule is slated to be released later this month with the Lakers receiving consideration for home contests.
“We are thrilled to become affiliated with conferences suited to support our transition to Division I programs,” added MacDougall.
“I want to thank Dan Sharadin, Ed Haas and the member institutions of these two premier conferences for welcoming Mercyhurst to join their ranks. Our teams are looking forward to this coming season and competing against some of the most elite programs in the nation. Go Lakers!”
