A History of Athletics at Bryn Athyn College
Bryn Athyn College, affiliated with the New Church, a branch of Christianity based on the Bible and the theological writings of Emanuel Swedenborg, has a rich history of athletics that has played an important role in building community support and program strength. The athletic programs are key for cultivating pride and loyalty in the college community. This article explores the evolution of the college's athletic programs, from its early beginnings to its time in NCAA Division III, and its eventual decision to discontinue its intercollegiate athletic offerings. Bryn Athyn College started educating undergraduates after its incorporation under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1877.
Early Developments
April 19, 1968, marked a vital milestone in the history of Bryn Athyn College. According to College Dean E. Bruce Glenn's annual report for 1967-68, the college now had its own campus. It did not take long for the current athletics program to develop into the successful program we all enjoy in the present day. In the early days of the college, teams were occasionally organized as "club" teams, comprised of students from the Boys’ School, College, and Theological School, as well as alumni and sometimes community members. In the mid-2000s, Dean Charles W. Church noted the importance of athletics in attracting and retaining students who are interested in continuing to participate in college.
The formation of intercollegiate teams was not fair to schools that were fielding high school only teams. The first mention of intercollegiate sports occurred in the 1966-67 Dean’s Report, when Eldric S. Klein wrote, “We are planning to field teams in ice hockey and lacrosse this year…for the College. The first game was played on April 20, 1967. According to Michael D. Smith, the coach, the team lost to Penn State, 9-4. Smith stated that he was “pleased by the result”.
The Rise of Key Sports
The late 1970s saw significant developments in the college's athletic offerings. Developments in athletics in the 1977-78 season set the tone for the future. The first game was a 2-0 win against Valley Forge University on October 8, 1977. Dean Robert W. Gladish noted that an increase in sportsofferings was a key development. This period also saw the emergence of mainstays like the current ice hockey program, which was started by the men’s hockey team in 1972, and finished first in the conference’s regular season standings in 1976-77. Heinrichs also introduced men’s and women’s lacrosse initiatives to P.E. courses a couple of years later.
Physical Education and Community Engagement
The 1979-80 college course catalog described the importance of P.E. courses, emphasizing the goal of helping students become fit, mentally fit, physically fit, and socially fit. The catalog stressed that these aspects of fitness are inter-dependent. Robert W. Church continued the emphasis on P.E. courses, noting the usual offerings of ice hockey in the Winter, and lacrosse in the Spring. Later, volleyball in the Fall and lacrosse in the Spring were added.
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Another key development, important to the community, was the construction of an ice rink on campus. This allowed for the expansion of ice hockey and women’s ringette offerings.
Leadership and Evolution
Several individuals played key roles in shaping the athletic program over the years. Dean Robert W. Gladish served as athletic director for one or two years. He was succeeded by Nina Cooper Dewees in 1992-93. In 1996-97, the College was renamed Bryn Athyn College of the New Church, having previously been called The Academy of the New Church College. Dewees served in this role until 2008, when she was succeeded by Shawn Synnestvedt. In 2002-03, co-ed badminton was introduced, along with offerings of men’s and women’s indoor soccer.
Transition to NCAA DIII
In the mid-2000s, Bryn Athyn College faced challenges in scheduling games, as it was difficult to find teams that were willing to play them. Bryn Athyn College and Valley Forge University joined the NCAA.
Joining the NCAA DIII was a milestone for Bryn Athyn College history. Bryn Athyn College joined the NCAA DIII conference NEAC (North Eastern Athletic Conference) in 2014-15. Pendleton Hall and the Jungé Pavilion was a huge step in 2013-14. Games could now be played on the college campus.
Around 2006-07, the "Lions" was adopted as the athletic mascot, and the first Lions logo was introduced in 2007. The athletic department also began to use social media to promote athletics and update fans about games. Additional sports were added, and some old ones reintroduced. New initiatives for student athlete health, involvement, and activities were initiated.
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Success in NCAA DIII
Bryn Athyn College experienced success in NCAA DIII, with several teams securing qualification for the NCAA DIII tournaments. Men's ice hockey became conference champion in 2021 and 2022. Men’s lacrosse won the conference championship in 2016-17 and was renamed General Ronald K. Nelson Field in 2016-17. Men's soccer won the conference championship for the 2012-13 season. Women’s ice hockey won the conference championship in 2022 and 2023, and women’s soccer in 2021 and 2022. Many student athletes have won NCAA DIII conference awards, including player of the year and rookie of the year, with some winning the player of the year award twice.
From 2015 to 2017, the Lions reached the semifinals at the National Championships held in Pelham, AL (2015), Grand Rapids, MI (2016) and Columbus, OH (2017). Student fans and community members traveled to the Championships, and the college hosted watch parties for students and faculty.
Traditions and Community
The Bryn Athyn College athletic program fostered a strong sense of community through various traditions and events. Volleyball season schedules frequently included games against alumni, although some teams have modified this tradition and hosted alumni vs. alumni games. Team chapels have been a meaningful way to bring spiritual focus for the teams. Alumni Weekend again brought the community together to celebrate our athletic tradition in 2021-22.
Discontinuation of Athletics
On March 26, 2025, Bryn Athyn announced that they would be eliminating all 11 of its NCAA sports teams and its club hockey team due to the school's financial instability.
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