The 2017-18 academic year for the NCAA brought more athletic opportunities for its universities and student-athletes. The NCAA recently announced that student participation in athletics in the association has reached an all-time high.

According to the NCAA, an increase in women’s athletics has played a crucial role in the current expansion.

“Women’s athletics, particularly at the college level, have enjoyed increased exposure in the media,” said Waynesburg University Sports Information Director Bobby Fox. “The United States is one of the most preeminent powers in many women’s sports such as basketball, soccer and softball, and that is drawing more girls into sports. It’s a fantastic thing.”

The number of female student athletes still remains lower than male athletes, but the number of women’s teams edges the number of men’s teams. According to the data released by the NCAA, there were 216,378 female athletes that competed in the 2017-18 academic year, which is 44 percent of the student athlete population.

The total of female teams came out to 10,586 compared to the final men’s total of 9,159. This is the first time since the 1996-97 academic year where the number of women’s teams outnumbered the number of men’s teams. The total of women’s teams in the 1996-97 year was 7,618 while the men’s teams had a total of 7,608.

While women’s sports have had a major impact on the expansion of collegiate athletics, men’s basketball junior guard Frank Bozicevic thinks more opportunities have also been a key contributor.

“I think the sports world has done a better job of saying if you do not play Division I, you have these other routes to play the game you love, such as Division III and even NAIA and JUCO,” said Bozicevic. “I also think as a society we preach about the importance of doing what you love, so while it’s important to pursue something you love, it’s also important to the organizations and schools that offer these sports programs.”

In addition to his views on the bountiful opportunities offered through collegiate athletics, Bozicevic also thinks the rewarding experience can draw students into sports.

“This year I have been very vocal and positive with my team and I am learning a leadership role and how important and tasking it is,” Bozicevic said. “I feel that being a student-athlete, those aspects translate into my daily life.”

While the NCAA continues to expand, talks of schools looking to expand and add athletic programs have been common through the years, but Fox does not believe it is essential or necessary for the campus of Waynesburg University.

“I have heard students in the past try to rationalize adding sports like men’s volleyball, men’s lacrosse and swimming and diving and these sports would all be PAC-sponsored programs, which is a positive,” Fox said. “However, more sports, like so many other things, cost more money, especially if you want to build a program in a way that gives them a chance to be a winner. I just don’t think Waynesburg University is in a place right now to add more programs to the 20 we already offer to the student populace.”

While the 2018-19 academic year is in its early stages, the NCAA expects more growth and possible balance between genders in the future.