Posted: Jul 10, 2025
Brandywine Advances To Year Two Of NCAA Provisional Process
MEDIA, Pa. -- The NCAA Division III Membership Committee took action to advance Penn State Brandywine to year two of the three-year provisional membership process during its meeting in late June.
As confirmed by the committee, Brandywine successfully completed all requirements in its first year of the three-year provisional process during the 2024-25 academic year. Brandywine remains on pace to earn full NCAA Division III membership beginning in 2027-28.
Highlighting Brandywine's first year as a provisional member and as a member of the United East Conference was a league championship by the softball team. The Lions captured the title with a dramatic, 8-7 victory over Penn College on May 11. In addition, Brandywine men's soccer earned a home UEC Tournament match, claiming a 2-1, overtime victory over Notre Dame of Maryland en route to a tournament quarterfinal appearance.
Thirteen student-athletes earned All-United East awards, including Emma McElroy, who was recognized as the United East Softball Rookie of the Year.
Academically, Brandywine posted a department-wide grade-point average of 3.09, its highest in over a decade. Four of Brandywine's 12 teams earned United East Academic Team awards, while 92 student-athletes claimed United East Scholar Athlete honors after earning a GPA of 3.20 or higher during their semester of competition.
Additional highlights included:
- All 12 varsity programs competing for a conference championship for the first time since 2011. Men's and women's tennis had competed as an independent from 2012-2024.
- Student-Athlete Advisory Committee President and 2025 graduate Karly Rees was selected to attend the NCAA Convention, representing Brandywine and the United East Conference
- Brandywine athletics staff attended the NCAA Convention in Nashville, Tenn., and the NCAA Regional Rules Seminar in Indianapolis, Ind.