FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                                                             OCTOBER 30, 2007

Clarion University will add Women’s Golf as a varsity intercollegiate sport, it was announced today by university officials. The program will begin as a varsity intercollegiate sport for the Fall 2008 season.

At the same time veteran Clarion assistant cross country and track coach Marie Gritzer has accepted her new position as women’s golf coach. She will start immediately.

"We’re looking forward to starting the new women’s golf program here at Clarion," said A.D. Dave Katis. "We plan on fielding a very competitive women’s golf program and will start recruiting student-athletes to participate in women’s golf immediately. Adding the golf program is a continued effort on the part of the university to build onto its commitment to women’s intercollegiate athletics. "

Clarion’s athletic program competes as an NCAA Division II member in all sports except wrestling, which competes at NCAA Division I. Clarion is also a member of the PSAC (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference) in all sports and the Eastern Wrestling League.

"We are thrilled to have the opportunity to add women’s golf as a varsity sport here at Clarion University. Doing so adds another important personal development opportunity for women on our campus that will serve them well, not only during the years of their education experience, but throughout their lives as well," said Clarion President Joseph Grunenwald. "Having a solid veteran coach like Marie Gritzer, who is committed to high academic and athletic achievement, will be a real benefit in the early development of our golf program."

The addition of Women’s Golf will bring Clarion’s varsity sport total to 16 programs, including 10 women’s and 6 men’s sports. The current women’s programs include basketball, cross country, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and field and volleyball, while the men’s programs include baseball, basketball, football, golf, swimming and diving and wrestling.

Starting a program from scratch will include the university establishing an operating budget for the program, scheduling competition for the 2008-09 season, recruiting student athletes, establishing equipment needs, and much more.

The Golden Eagles will be participating in the Fall of 2008 in the PSAC. Currently there are three women’s golf programs in the PSAC (California, Kutztown and West Chester), along with five men’s programs (Clarion, Cal, Millersville, IUP and West Chester). Mercyhurst and Gannon also have women’s golf programs and will be entering the PSAC in the Fall of 2008.

"We are adding golf for several reasons," stated Katis. "We feel golf is an extremely popular sport that is spreading in popularity across the country both at the high school and collegiate levels. With Mercyhurst and Gannon coming into the PSAC in the Fall, we will have a chance to participate immediately in a new PSAC Championship event in 2008. Also, we feel there is interest in starting this sport on campus, and it will increase opportunities for our students and student athletes."

Gritzer, 56, is currently in her ninth year as a coach on the Golden Eagle staff and is excited about the new challenges presented by starting the golf program from scratch.

"I am really excited to be the new women’s golf coach at Clarion and to have the opportunity to start a program from the beginning," said Gritzer. "I am up for the challenge. Having the opportunity to be a part of creating history here at Clarion was hard to pass up, and I believe our new student athletes will feel the same way I do."

Gritzer was an assistant coach with the men’s and women’s cross country teams at Clarion for 8 years, as well as with the indoor and outdoor track and field programs with the Golden Eagles. She was named first assistant in 2002 and served five years in that capacity through the Summer of 2007. She holds USA Track and Field Association Levels I and II certifications, and is a dedicated coach.

"I feel the organizational skills I have gained through all my years in coaching will serve me well as we begin a new tradition. In my years at Clarion I have recruited and coached many successful student athletes, plus been very involved in the administrative end including budget preparation, scheduling and the like. At Clarion we have a tradition of quality student-athletes, that’s the kind of athletes we always recruited in track and cross country, and that will be our mission with the golf program."

She is no stranger to starting new programs. In 1996 Clarion-Limestone High School started a new boys and girls cross country team and Gritzer started those teams from scratch as well. She coached both programs from 1996-2001 with much success.

A native of Latrobe, Pa., Marie graduated from Derry Area in 1969 and has resided in Clarion since 1970. Marie and husband Denny have a daughter Christina.

CLARION NOTES: The last sport added at Clarion was Women’s Soccer ... The program was added in 2000 and started as an intercollegiate sport in 2001... Before that Women’s Cross Country was started as an intercollegiate sport in the Fall of 1978... Prior to that Women’s Track was started in the Spring of 1978.