Emory & Henry leaving for Division II

Emory & Henry College announced plans today to leave the DIII ranks and join Division II. The school will leave the ODAC and join the South Atlantic Conference over the next few years. This year was set to be the first season for men’s and women’s wrestling at the Emory, Virginia, school.

If approved, the Wasps would earn provisional status in 2021-22 and would play full conference schedules the following year. The South Atlantic Conference sponsors men’s wrestling as a partnership with the Conference Carolinas. Emory & Henry would be the ninth school in the conference with men’s wrestling.

Emory & Henry College has around 950 full-time undergraduate students and announced the addition of men’s and women’s wrestling in January of this year. Pete Hansen was named head coach in February. Under the expected timeline, the Wasps will become postseason eligible in Division II for the 2024-2025 season. Should there be an NCAA DIII postseason this year, the school will be eligible to participate in its first and last DIII wrestling postseason.

Emory & Henry To Join The South Atlantic Conference Pending Approval To Division II

Projected Timeline of Emory & Henry’s Realignment from NCAA Division II to NCAA Division III
November 2020 – Approval from E&H Board of Trustees to pursue membership in NCAA Division II — COMPLETED
November 2020 – Invitation received from the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) to become a member — COMPLETED
January 2021 – Submit formal application to the NCAA for realignment to NCAA Division II
July 2021 – Expected decision from the NCAA regarding application for realignment
August 2021 – Start of first NCAA Division II provisional year
August 2022 – Start of second NCAA Division II provisional year (anticipated full SAC schedule)
August 2023 – Start of final NCAA Division II provisional year
August 2024 – Full NCAA Division II membership and eligibility for postseason play