Warner Royals Explained

Warner Royals
University:Warner University
Association:NAIA
Conference:The Sun (primary)
Mid-South (men's volleyball)
Director:Chrissy Moskovits
Location:Lake Wales, Florida
First Season:1973
Teams:20
Mens Teams:8
Womens Teams:11
Coed Teams:1
Stadium:Tye Athletic Field
Basketballarena:Turner Athletic Center
Baseballfield:Royals Baseball Field
Softballstadium:Daly Field
Soccerstadium:Royals Soccer Field
Lacrossestadium:Tye Athletic Field
Nickname:Royals
Color1:Blue
Color2:Gold
Hex1:0000ff
Hex2:CC9900
Pageurl:https://warnerroyals.com/index.aspx

The Warner Royals are the athletic teams for Warner University in Lake Wales, Florida, in intercollegiate sports as a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA),[1] primarily competing in the Sun Conference (formerly known as the Florida Sun Conference (FSC) until after the 2007–08 school year) for most of its sports since the 1990–91 academic year;[2] [3] while its men's volleyball team competes in the Mid-South Conference (MSC). They are also a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), primarily competing as an independent in the South Region of the Division I level. Their rivals are the Webber Warriors.

Varsity teams

Warner competes in 21 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, soccer, tennis, track & field and volleyball; women's sports include basketball, beach volleyball, cheerleading, cross country, dance, flag football,[4] lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field and volleyball; and co-ed sports include clay target. Former sports included men's & women's golf.

Football

The university added football for the 2013 season.[5] The team initially played as an NAIA Independent program with a mixed schedule of NAIA, NCAA Division II and NCAA Division I FCS competition.[6] The Royals left independent status after the inaugural season when The Sun Conference announced football as a conference sport starting in the 2014 season.[7] After two seasons, the conference announced a football merger with the Mid-South Conference in 2016.[8] Warner and the other conference rivals became affiliate members in the Mid-South, participating in the Sun Division for football.[9] Their football team gained national recognition after losing 98-0 to Stephen F. Austin on September 24, 2022.

Men's volleyball

Warner University was the first college/university to offer a varsity men's volleyball program in the state of Florida. The men's volleyball program participates in the Mid-South Conference.[10] The program initially competed in the Mid-America Men's Volleyball Intercollegiate Conference (MAMVIC). The program made back-to-back appearances in the NAIA Men's Volleyball National Invitational Tournament in 2011 and 2012.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Schools. NAIA.ORG. NAIA. 11 November 2015.
  2. Web site: 2011-12 NAIA Baseball Qualification Plan . 2012-02-07 . 2011-05-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110515234843/http://graphics.fansonly.com/schools/naia/member-services/championships/Qualifcation_Plans/qual_plans_pdf/qual_BASEBALL.pdf . dead .
  3. Web site: Members. Thesunconference.com. 11 November 2015.
  4. Web site: Stubbs. Marissa. Sidney Hines is first girl in Leon County to sign college flag football scholarship. 2021-03-24. Tallahassee Democrat. en-US.
  5. News: Fuhrmeister . Chris . Here are the 12 brand-new college football programs for 2013 . 12 February 2020 . SB SportsNation . July 9, 2013.
  6. News: Kernan . Sean . Stetson vs. Warner football game to resume at 3 p.m. Sunday . 12 February 2020 . The Dayton Beach News-Journal . September 1, 2013.
  7. News: The Sun Conference to Add Football in 2014 . 12 February 2020 . The Sun Conference . March 10, 2014.
  8. News: Wilson. Michael. Local teams officially join Mid-South football conference. 27 February 2016. The Lakeland Ledger. 25 February 2016.
  9. News: Staff . Mid-South Conference merging with Sun Conference . 12 February 2020 . Grayson Journal-Esquire . March 2, 2016.
  10. News: Mid-South Conference Adds Men's Volleyball Beginning In 2018-19 . 6 February 2020 . Mid-South Conference . January 10, 2018.