The Merrimack College athletics department on Wednesday announced plans for a significant expansion of its Division I programs through a comprehensive plan, 'Warriors Rising: A Blueprint for Athletics Growth and Competitive Excellence.’

Acrobatics & Tumbling is one or four programs Merrimack plans to add, with the plan to complete as a Division I program in 2027-28.

Merrimack will also add three additional Division I varsity sports – women's flag football, men's swimming and men's rowing – to its athletic offerings beginning in the 2027-28 academic year. Over the next five years, the department plans to grow its student-athlete population by more than 40 percent.

The expansion represents the latest step forward for a department that has experienced transformational growth over the past decade, highlighted by the transition to NCAA Division I. It also comes at an important moment in Merrimack College's trajectory as the College continues to grow in size, reputation and reach, while making significant investments in academic programs, campus and student experience.

"Athletics is an important part of who we are at Merrimack," said Christopher E. Hopey, Ph.D., president of Merrimack College. "It brings our community together, creates a powerful sense of pride and belonging, and provides our student-athletes with an experience that challenges them to pursue excellence in competition, in the classroom and in their lives. As Merrimack continues to grow, we want our athletics program to grow with it, creating opportunities for more students to be part of the Warrior community and building on the momentum we have established as a Division I institution."

"We know the student-athlete experience at Merrimack College transforms lives in powerful and meaningful ways. It helps students become the best versions of themselves and develops leaders who make a difference in their communities," Merrimack College athletic director Joe Foley said. "Warriors Rising is about extending that transformative experience to even more students while strengthening our commitment to providing every Merrimack student-athlete with an exceptional experience at the highest level."

"Today's announcement from Merrimack College is incredibly exciting for many reasons,” said NCATA Executive Director Janell Cook. “First and foremost, these are new opportunities for young women training in gymnastics and cheerleading to pursue their academic and athletic goals.  Additionally, we are thrilled to work with Joe Foley and Shanna Alexander as Merrimack College implements their program. We are thankful for their commitment to high-quality experiences for student-athletes and for seeing the value in adding A&T on their campus.

"Finally, the rapid of growth of DI A&T programs in the region, and within the MAAC, is huge for the sport as we continue to move through an exciting period of transition as a new NCAA championship sport. We are hopeful about the potential for a future MAAC conference championship," Cook added.

ABOUT MERRIMACK ATHLETICS

Merrimack completed its transition to NCAA Division I in 2023, marking a historic milestone for the College and athletic department. Merrimack Athletics is home to 28 varsity programs competing at the NCAA Division I level as members of the Metro Conference, Hockey East and Northeast Conference.