CLEVELAND, Ga. (October 30, 2024) - The Truett McConnell University athletic department is proud to announce the addition of their 24^th and 25^th sports teams, men's and women's bowling and their 26^th and 27^th sports teams, men's and women's pickleball. The Bears inaugural seasons are set to begin Fall 2025. 
 
The TMU bowling team will be a member of the Appalachian Athletic Conference, whose mission is to promote the education and development of students, provide athletic competition among its members for the purpose of designating champions in sponsored sports, to increase visibility of its members, and to promote the highest ethical standards of character, conduct, sportsmanship, and fair play. The Bears will look to compete against colleges at the NAIA and NCAA levels, along with competing against fellow AAC opponents Union College, Tennessee Wesleyan University, University of Pikeville, Milligan University, and SCAD Atlanta.
 
"Bowling has continued to grow within our conference and with the addition of our programs the AAC will reach the minimum number of schools required (six) to officially sponsor both men's and women's bowling as a championship sport," said Vice President for Athletics Jenni Shepard. "The bowling teams will practice at an off-campus facility near TMU with the details still being finalized. We are excited to assist the AAC with growing this sport while creating a new avenue for prospective student-athletes to be able to represent TMU athletically."
 
TMU Pickleball will be governed by USA Pickleball, whose mission is to promote the development and growth of pickleball in the United States and its territories by providing players with official rules, tournaments, rankings and promotional materials. The Bears will look to compete against various NCAA and NAIA programs, including fellow NAIA institution Ave Maria University.
 
"Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the country at all levels making it an easy decision to add this sport as we already have current and future TMU students interested in joining these teams. We have chosen a location on campus to resurface former tennis courts to create four pickleball courts for on campus practice and competition. These courts will also be an asset to our student body for intramurals and outdoor recreation and is a combined project between athletics and student life. The pickleball courts are set to be completed by Fall 2025."
 
Steve Patton, Truett McConnell University's Associate Vice President for Student Recruitment, will serve as the bowling and pickleball recruiting coordinator, and can be contacted at spatton@truett.edu.
 
Shepard concludes by saying, "I am so thankful for our Associate Vice President for Student Recruitment, Steve Patton, who will be the main contact for recruiting for these programs. He has previously recruited for cycling, tennis, disc golf and shooting sports, along with his international student and golf program recruiting duties. He is able to paint the picture of what TMU athletics is all about. This is very exciting for me in my role as Vice President for Athletics and Student life because when we add athletic programs, we are also expanding our platform to share the love of Christ with others through athletics."
Coaching searches will begin immediately for both programs with competition to begin Fall 2025.
 
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