The Daily OrangeMaking Strides | ESF applies for Division III membership, cross country and golf clubs lead the way
By Jess Siart
Posted: 9/10/09, 3:00 AM EST Section: News
The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry is expanding its athletic department in order to provide more athletic opportunities for both current and prospective students.
The school has applied to move up to a Division III program as a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, a college sports governance association focused on small colleges. ESF will know the results of their NAIA application this fall.
"The college is interested in getting a boost in school spirit, press coverage, alumni and parent support, student leadership and recreation, campus activities and other areas that can benefit from (joining) an intercollegiate sports program," said Robert French, vice president for enrollment management and marketing at ESF.
One of the sports that would benefit from this membership is the school's men and women cross country teams. More than 30 runners have signed up to participate for the team so far, French said.
ESF hired alumnus James Goulet as head coach and John View, director of financial aid at ESF, as assistant coach for the cross country team.
"I feel like there are a lot of people who used to run cross country in high school, and I think once the team is more established, those people will join and the team will be stronger," said runner Paulette Lloyd, a sophomore conservation biology major at ESF.
Previously, ESF students interested in running cross country turned to Syracuse University's running club, The Jackalopes. ESF students are not eligible to run for SU's cross country team because it is a Division I sport.
"I tried running with the Jackalopes a few times, but they didn't have enough structure so it wasn't beneficial to me, said Mike Miles, a sophomore forest engineering major. "ESF seems to have more structure."
The teams practice behind Bray Hall near the campus' Robin Hood Oak as often as possible. The cross country teams have a flexible practice schedule, allowing students to attend practice when they have time without facing penalties for being absent. This allows students to balance busy class schedules with running.
The school has applied to move up to a Division III program as a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, a college sports governance association focused on small colleges. ESF will know the results of their NAIA application this fall.
"The college is interested in getting a boost in school spirit, press coverage, alumni and parent support, student leadership and recreation, campus activities and other areas that can benefit from (joining) an intercollegiate sports program," said Robert French, vice president for enrollment management and marketing at ESF.
One of the sports that would benefit from this membership is the school's men and women cross country teams. More than 30 runners have signed up to participate for the team so far, French said.
ESF hired alumnus James Goulet as head coach and John View, director of financial aid at ESF, as assistant coach for the cross country team.
"I feel like there are a lot of people who used to run cross country in high school, and I think once the team is more established, those people will join and the team will be stronger," said runner Paulette Lloyd, a sophomore conservation biology major at ESF.
Previously, ESF students interested in running cross country turned to Syracuse University's running club, The Jackalopes. ESF students are not eligible to run for SU's cross country team because it is a Division I sport.
"I tried running with the Jackalopes a few times, but they didn't have enough structure so it wasn't beneficial to me, said Mike Miles, a sophomore forest engineering major. "ESF seems to have more structure."
The teams practice behind Bray Hall near the campus' Robin Hood Oak as often as possible. The cross country teams have a flexible practice schedule, allowing students to attend practice when they have time without facing penalties for being absent. This allows students to balance busy class schedules with running.
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