The Ave Maria Gyrenes are the athletic teams that represent Ave Maria University, located in Ave Maria, Florida, in intercollegiate sports as a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA),[2] primarily competing in the Sun Conference (formerly known as the Florida Sun Conference (FSC) until after the 2007–08 school year) since the 2009–10 academic year.[3] They are also a member of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA).[4]

Ave Maria Gyrenes
UniversityAve Maria University
AssociationNAIA
ConferenceThe Sun (primary)
Athletic directorJoe Patterson
LocationAve Maria, Florida
Varsity teams23 (11 men's, 12 women's)
Football stadiumGyrene Field
Basketball arenaTom Golisano Field House
Baseball stadiumBowie's Ballpark
Softball stadiumAve Maria Softball Field
Soccer stadiumGyrene Field
Aquatics centerImmokalee Sports Complex
Lacrosse stadiumGyrene Field
Tennis venueAMU Tennis Facility
MascotJax the Gyrene
NicknameGyrenes
ColorsBlue and green[1]
   
Websiteavemariagyrenes.com/index.aspx

Varsity teams

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Ave Maria competes in 24 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, swimming, tennis, track & field (indoor and outdoor) and ultimate frisbee; basketball, beach volleyball, cross country, dance, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track & field (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball. Former sports included men's & women's rugby.

Football

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In 2011, Ave Maria became the first college in southwestern Florida to field a football team.[5] In the spring of 2016, the Gyrenes football team joined the Mid-South Conference (MSC) as an affiliate member.[6]

Lacrosse

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The women's lacrosse team competed in the National Women's Lacrosse League (NWLL) in their first varsity season in the spring of 2015.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "Branding guidelines". Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  2. ^ "Schools". NAIA.ORG. NAIA. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  3. ^ "Members". Thesunconference.com. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  4. ^ "Ave Maria".
  5. ^ Wommack, Woody (February 12, 2010). "Ave Maria University hires football coach; inaugural season in 2011". Naples Daily News. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
  6. ^ Wilson, Michael (25 February 2016). "Local teams officially join Mid-South football conference". The Lakeland Ledger. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  7. ^ "Members". NAIA. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
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26°20′11″N 81°26′17″W / 26.336336°N 81.438053°W / 26.336336; -81.438053