Pratt Athletics is kicking the new year off strong, as the seventh full member of the Atlantic East Conference and the first from New York State. Having been granted membership over the summer, the Pratt Institute Cannoneers will compete as part of the conference for the first time this semester, with their inaugural games on Wednesday, October 9, as both men’s and women’s soccer teams face off with Gwynedd Mercy University.
Athletics have long been an important part of the college experience at Pratt, and the Institute is one of the few schools in the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design (AICAD) that offers intercollegiate athletics at the NCAA Division III level.
Previously, Pratt was a member of the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference, with participating members located all across the country. With the Institute’s move to a more local conference, student-athletes will not have to travel as far to compete, making it possible for them to play in more regularly scheduled games and develop a healthy rivalry between conference members throughout the year. Both students and coaches will also be able to count on a more consistent schedule, including critical rest days built in between games.
The Cannoneers will be competing against other conference members in the area, including Gwynedd Mercy, Immaculata, Marywood, and Neumann Universities in Pennsylvania; Centenary University in New Jersey; and Marymount University in Virginia.
“The move to the AEC is an exciting transition for the institution,” said Director of Athletics and Recreation Walter Rickard. “The institutions in the conference have strong academic and athletic profiles we’ve been looking for and adding a regular conference schedule will add consistency to support the academic needs of our student-athletes and enhance the student-athlete experience greatly. Joining the AEC will also provide more opportunities for recognition academically and athletically.”
The conference is just one recent change during a time of exciting momentum for the athletics department, which serves approximately 180 students across 15 teams, including basketball, cross country, soccer, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and equestrian. Over the past four years, the program has expanded greatly, with notable additions to facilities and staffing. All of Pratt’s head coaches are now full-time employees, enabling them to meaningfully expand their national recruitment efforts. Additionally, renovation efforts are enhancing the Activity Resource Center (ARC); the completed project will include an updated entryway to the gym floor, locker rooms, showers, restrooms, and support spaces, which will benefit the entire campus community
Since the early 20th century, student-athletes at Pratt have excelled both on the field and in the classroom. Today, they continue to earn strong academic marks, maintaining a 3.504 grade point average for the 2023–24 academic year. With ongoing developments in the program, Pratt student-athletes are slated for another fulfilling year pursuing excellence in academics, arts, and athletics.