Shawnee State Bears
| Shawnee State Bears | |
|---|---|
 | |
| University | Shawnee State University |
| Association | NAIA |
| Conference | River States |
| Athletic director | Gerald Cadogan |
| Location | Portsmouth, Ohio |
| Varsity teams | 20 (9 men's, 10 women's, 1 co-ed) |
| Basketball arena | Frank and Janis Waller Gymnasium |
| Baseball stadium | Branch Rickey Park |
| Softball stadium | Boone Coleman Field |
| Soccer stadium | Shawnee Turf |
| Nickname | Bears |
| Colors | Midnight Blue, Gray, and White |
| Website | www |
The Shawnee State Bears are the athletic teams that represent Shawnee State University, located in Portsmouth, Ohio, in intercollegiate sports. They are a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the River States Conference (RSC). The Bears joined the RSC in 2023[1] after 13 years in the Mid-South Conference (MSC).[2] The Bears previously competed in the defunct American Mideast Conference (AMC) from 1991–92 to 2009–10; and as an NAIA Independent from 1986–87 (when the school began its athletics program and joined the NAIA) to 1990–91.
The Shawnee State athletics program was established in 1986. The Bears have participated in 25 national championships and 17 conference championships in 7 of 11 sponsored sports.
Varsity teams
[edit]Shawnee State competes in 20 intercollegiate varsity sports:
| Men's sports | Women's sports |
|---|---|
| Baseball | Basketball |
| Basketball | Bowling |
| Bowling | Cross country |
| Cross country | Golf |
| Golf | Soccer |
| Soccer | Softball |
| Swimming | Swimming |
| Tennis | Tennis |
| Track and field1 | Track and field1 |
| Volleyball | |
| Co-ed sports | |
eSports
| |
| 1 – includes both indoor and outdoor | |
Club sports
[edit]Apart from the varsity teams, the university has a men's volleyball club.[3]
Accomplishments
[edit]The SSU women’s basketball team won the NAIA Division II National Championship on March 16, 1999 with an 80-65 win over the University of Saint Francis (Indiana).[4]
The SSU men's basketball team won the NAIA National Championship on March 23, 2021 with an 74-68 win over the Lewis-Clark State College.[5]
National championships
[edit]NAIA
[edit]| Sport | Titles | Competition | Winning years | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basketball (men's) | 1 |
National championship – Div. I | 2021 | [6] |
| Basketball (women's) | 1 |
National championship – Div. II | 1999 | [7] |
Other athletic highlights
[edit]- 1992 - softball team finishes 10th in NAIA National Tournament[8]
- 1995 - softball team finishes 8th in NAIA National Tournament[8]
- 1995 - women's basketball, NAIA National Tournament Final Four[9]
- 1996 - softball team finishes as NAIA National Tournament Runners-up[8]
- 1998 - softball team finishes 9th in NAIA National Tournament[8]
- 1999 - women's basketball team won the NAIA Division II National Championship[9]
- 2001 - softball team finishes 9th in NAIA National Tournament:[8]
- 2008 - men's cross country team finishes 11th in NAIA National Championships:[10]
- 2008 - women's cross country team finishes 13th in NAIA National Championships:[11]
- 2021 - men's basketball team won the NAIA National Championship[5]
References
[edit]- ^ "Shawnee State approved for RSC membership" (Press release). River States Conference. September 14, 2022. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
- ^ "SHAWNEE STATE UNIVERSITY :: Athletics". Archived from the original on 2010-05-27. Retrieved 2010-08-12.
- ^ Men's volleyball at ssubears.com
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-05-23. Retrieved 2008-11-25.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ a b "Shawnee State wins program's first NAIA Tournament title". AP NEWS. 2021-03-24. Retrieved 2021-03-24.
- ^ The Shawnee State Men’s Basketball team are NAIA National Champions! on shawnee.edu, 24 Mar 2021
- ^ Shawnee State University, 1999 NAIA National Champions at the Ohio Basketball HOF
- ^ a b c d e SSU Athletic Department. "SSU Softball - Quick Facts". Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-06-25.
- ^ a b SSU Athletic Department. "SSU Women's Basketball - Quick Facts". Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-06-25.
- ^ SSU Athletic Department. "SSU Men's Cross Country - Quick Facts". Archived from the original on 2008-12-02. Retrieved 2008-12-17.
- ^ SSU Athletic Department. "SSU Women's Cross Country - Quick Facts". Archived from the original on 2009-05-06. Retrieved 2008-12-17.
