MATC is Switching Conferences After 43 Years
Posted 8-26-09 - After 43 years in the the Wisconsin Technical College Conference (WTCC) Madison Area Technical College (MATC) is making the switch to a new intercollegiate athletic conference. Starting this fall, Madison Area Technical College along with Milwaukee Area Technical College will join the North Central Community College Conference (N4C).
In addition to both Madison Area Technical College and Milwaukee Area Technical College, the N4C is comprised of the following teams… College of DuPage (Glen Ellyn, IL), Harper College (Palatine, IL), Joliet Junior College (Joliet, IL), Rock Valley College (Rockford, IL) and Triton College (River Grove, IL).
HISTORY
Wisconsin Technical College Conference (WTCC)
The Wisconsin Technical College Conference was formed in 1966 by the late MATC Athletics Director Douglas Redsten. MATC was a leader within the conference since its inception, winning over 160 conference championships over the course of the past 43 years including seventeen straight conference baseball titles.
Wisconsin Junior College Athletic Association
MATC will also be leaving the Wisconsin Junior College Athletic Association (WJCAA). In 1973, the WJCAA was created and began functioning as the official governing body for junior college athletics in the state of Wisconsin. MATC was one of fifteen charter members of the WJCAA and MATC Athletic Director Douglas Redsten served as the inagugural president of the organization. MATC has won 115 WJCAA Championships since 1973.
National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA)
In 1972, Madison Area Technical College joined the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). MATC teams have competed in Region XIII of the NJCAA which is comprised of two year colleges from Wisconsin, North Dakota, Minnesota, Montana and Michigan. The WolfPack have won 37 Region XIII Championships. The change in conferences will also change the NJCAA region in which MATC competes. The WolfPack will be in Region IV which encompasses Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin. MATC has claimed 22 top eight national finishes and three national titles coming out of Region XIII.
REASONS FOR SWITCH
The switch was prompted by recent elimination of intercollegiate athletic programs within our current membership in the the Wisconsin Technical College Conference (WTCC) and the Wisconsin Junior College Athletic Association (WJCAA). The changing dynamics within these athletic associations caused us to consider the long term direction and future of the MATC Athletics program. With MATC being, first and foremost, fully committed to continuing membership within the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) the college has made the decision to discontinue our current membership in the WTCC and the WJCAA.
NEW CONFERENCE
The timing of this move benefits MATC as well as the N4C membership. The move will allow for efficient and effective intercollegiate athletics contest scheduling and will provide desired strength, relative to both the quantity of teams and the quality of teams, for both MATC and membership of the N4C. For instance, MATC Soccer used to compete against only one other team in the Wisconsin Technical College Conference (Milwaukee Area Technical College) and now the team will have five other conference opponents and ten conference games instead of just two.
The N4C has a rich tradition of success at the national level as is evidenced by numerous national championships in many sports over the past few years. The conference schools have also produced quality athletes like former Triton College Baseball player and Minnesota Twins outfielder, Kirby Puckett.
COMMENTS
Quote from Steve Hauser, MATC Director of Athletics: "We have always valued our relationship with both the WTCC and WJCAA. However, many factors needed to be carefully considered in assessing our current and future athletic association membership. Because our primary intent is to provide valuable, quality and competitive experiences for all of our intercollegiate student-athletes long into the future, the move is prudent." |
