BUILDING OUR LADY’S TEAM A History of Athletics at AMU

Since the spring of 2008, Ave Maria students have been using their athletic gifts to serve Our Lady’s University and give glory to God. We’ve come a long way since our NAIA application 15 years ago. Here’s a look into the journey of building 25 varsity athletic teams for Ave Maria University.

April 2008

AMU Enters the NAIA

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announces Ave Maria University’s application to join was approved by the Council of Presidents at their 67th annual National Convention, held April 11-15, 2008, in Louisville, Kentucky.

August 2008

Women’s Volleyball is AMU’s Inaugural Team

The first AMU varsity intercollegiate athletic contests take place. The volleyball program opens at home on August 26, 2008, versus Southeastern University. On August 30, the program has its first win over Warner Southern (now Warner University), 3-1. The volleyball team calls Ave Maria Grammar and Preparatory School (now Donahue Academy) their home court.

September 2008

Men’s and Women’s Soccer Take the Field

The men’s and women’s soccer teams take the field for the first time, hosting Warner Southern at Ave Maria North Park. Both programs go on to earn their first wins in program history over the College of the Bahamas (COB).

October 2008

Men’s Basketball and Men’s Golf Enter the Arena

Men’s basketball tips off for the first time in Orlando, Florida, to take on Florida Christian College. At the first game, they record the program’s first win by a score of 91-75. The men’s golf team also competes for the first time.

November 2008

Women’s Basketball Takes the Court

Women’s basketball tips off for the first time, traveling to Babson Park, Florida, to take on Webber International University. They record the program’s first win versus Johnson & Wales, 61-57. The AMU basketball teams, like volleyball, call Ave Maria Grammar and Preparatory School (now Donahue Academy) their home court.

October 2009

Tom Golisano Donates the Fieldhouse

Tom Golisano announces a $4 million donation to fund the University’s first indoor athletic facility.

JANUARY 2010 Baseball and Softball Start Their Seasons

Baseball and softball play their first-ever games, with baseball facing off against Warner University (Florida) and softball against Calumet College of St. Joseph (Indiana).

February 2010

Golisano Fieldhouse Breaks Ground

Tom Golisano participates in the official groundbreaking for the Golisano Fieldhouse.

September 2010

Cross Country Enters the Race, Men’s Soccer Comes Home

The cross-country teams travel to Daytona Beach for their first-ever competition in the ASICS Embry-Riddle Classic. The same month, men’s soccer — competing in their fifth season — finally play on campus at home, defeating Clearwater Christian 2-1.

November 2010

Golisano Fieldhouse Opens

The Tom Golisano Fieldhouse officially opens with the men’s basketball season opener. The Gyrenes put on an impressive offensive show, dominating Trinity College 105-85.

JANUARY 2011 Track and Field Takes Off

The first track and field athletes compete for AMU at the Jimmy Carnes Invitational. Track and field would be discontinued after the 2010-2011 season and restarted as a varsity sport 12 years later.

February 2011

Tennis Takes the Court

The tennis teams play their first-ever varsity matches, traveling to Webber International.

March 2011

Women’s Basketball Excels, Women’s Track Produces All-American

The women’s basketball team wins three straight games in Union Town, Pennsylvania, claiming the USCAA national championship and capping a 25-8 season. Marya Haegler becomes Ave Maria’s first NAIA All-American in the Indoor Track and Field Women’s 5000m race. She finishes fourth with a time of 17:14.15.

September 2011

Gyrene Football Debuts

Ave Maria football travels to Alabama to play its firstever game. The team didn’t have any games on campus during their first season.

March 2012

Women’s Basketball Goes for Gold

Ave Maria wins their first Sun Conference championship in any sport. Women’s basketball claims both the league’s regular season and tournament championships, earning an automatic berth into the NAIA National Tournament.

AUGUST 2012 Athletic Participation Continues to Grow

Ave Maria greets the academic year with more than 300 students participating in intercollegiate sports.

FEBRUARY 2013 Basketball Continues to Succeed

The basketball teams wrap up very successful regular seasons. The men’s team finishes 23-9 and posts its first winning season in conference play, ranking No. 14 in the NAIA. The women’s program repeats as Sun Conference regular season champions, going 12-2 in league play.

MAY 2013 Baseball Competes Nationally

The Ave Maria baseball program finishes its best season with 38 wins, enough to earn an at-large berth into the NAIA tournament. The Gyrenes also earn a win in the national tournament with a victory over nationally ranked Martin Methodist.

OCTOBER 2013 Football Plays at Home

Ave Maria football hosts a home game on campus for the first time. The Gyrenes win with a 45-41 come-from-behind thriller versus the Florida Institute of Technology.

November 2013

Gyrene Football Triumphs

The Gyrene football team defeats Newport News Apprentice School (Virginia) to finish the season with an 8-2 record, the best record of all NAIA independent football teams.

MARCH 2014 Women’s Basketball Three-Peats

The Ave Maria women’s basketball program wins the conference title for the third year in a row, this time returning to the NAIA tournament as Sun Conference tournament champions. The Gyrenes beat Johnson & Wales and Southeastern before a thrilling 70-69 win over Webber in the final.

FEBRUARY 2015 Lacrosse Enters the Scene

Women’s lacrosse has its first game ever at Florida Tech.

AUGUST 2015 Athletic Participation Continues to Grow

Ave Maria greets the academic year with more than 400 students participating in intercollegiate sports.

FEBRUARY 2016 Football Enters 20-Team Conference

The Mid-South Conference and Sun Conference announce they will merge their football conferences to create a 20-team conference, the largest one in the country.

May 2017

Softball and Lacrosse Celebrate Record Seasons

Softball defeats the University of South Carolina Beaufort, 3-2, to cap its most successful season ever with 32 wins. Women’s lacrosse also finishes its best season 7-7, 3-2.

NOVEMBER 2018 Football Claims Sun Division Championship

The Gyrene football team beats Warner University at home, 31-21, to secure the Mid-South Conference Sun Division championship. The season also witnesses the first-ever night football game on campus, resulting in a thrilling 23-20 victory over the defending Sun Conference champions, Southeastern. AMU beats three nationally ranked teams this season.

February 2019

AMU Welcomes Beach Volleyball

Beach volleyball begins competition at a trimatch in Miami Gardens, Florida.

March 2019

Men’s Basketball Wins Sun Conference

Men’s basketball defeats Coastal Georgia in the Sun Conference tournament to become conference tournament champions. The win caps an eightgame winning streak to solidify the most successful season in program history, finishing 23-9 with a 13-5 conference record. The season is the first of four consecutive 20-win seasons.

August 2020

AMU Perseveres During COVID-19

At the height of the COVID pandemic, Ave Maria pursues fall competitions in football, cross country, soccer, and volleyball. AMU is the only college in Southwest Florida competing at the time.

May 2021

Five Sports Finish Top of Conference

AMU records its bestever Commissioner’s Cup finish with a thirdplace finish behind Southeastern and Keiser. The Commissioner’s Cup is awarded annually to schools based on how their teams finished in sports sponsored by the Sun Conference. Five sports finish in the top two of the conference: men’s and women’s cross country, indoor volleyball, men’s basketball, and beach volleyball.

August 2021

Athletic Participation Continues to Grow

Ave Maria greets the academic year with 500 students participating in intercollegiate sports.

September 2021

AMU Introduces Hall of Fame

Ave Maria announces its inaugural Hall of Fame Class, recognizing softball player Kingsley Avery ('16), basketball player Emily Huber ('13), and football player Jeff Lindenmoyer ('15).

October 2021

Gyrene Swim Launches

The Gyrene swim teams compete for the first time in a dual match in Miami Gardens versus St. Thomas.

November 2021

Indoor Volleyball Wins Sun Conference

After finishing the season as the second-place team in the Sun Conference, the indoor volleyball team dominates the Sun Conference tournament, defeating Florida Memorial 3-0 and Coastal Georgia 3-0 to win the tournament championship. The win advances them to the NAIA national tournament in Nebraska.

December 2021

Sun Conference Reclaims Football

The Sun Conference announces it will again sponsor football, independent of the MidSouth Conference. This allows the football team to set its own 2022 schedule, which includes two Michigan teams and one Maryland team.

FEBRUARY 2022 Competitive Dance Celebrates Inaugural Season

The AMU competitive dance team travels to New Orleans for its first-ever competition as a part of the Battle in the Big Easy.

May 2022

Gyrene Tennis Makes History

Both the men’s and women’s tennis teams qualify for the NAIA Tournament for the first time in school history. The men’s team becomes the second team in AMU history to win a national tournament game.

August 2022

Student-Athletes Rise to 600, Second Hall of Fame Class Announced

Ave Maria greets the academic year with more than 600 students participating in intercollegiate sports. The athletic department announces the second Hall of Fame class: lacrosse player Abby Castro ('17), basketball player Kiel Lewis ('13), and baseball player Alex Sanchez ('13).

SEPTEMBER 2022

AMU Creates John Paul II Distinguished Alumni Award

AMU announces the first-ever recipients of the John Paul II Distinguished Alumni Award: soccer player Christine Mastandrea ('12) and baseball player Brian Trymbiski ('11).

October 2022

Ultimate Frisbee and Rugby Elevated to Varsity

The recently elevated men’s ultimate frisbee team plays its first match as a varsity team, beating Florida Gulf Coast University’s club team at home. Ave Maria announces the men’s rugby club team will be elevated to varsity status, effective for the 2023-2024 academic year.

December 2022

Track and Field Starts Fresh

The reinstated track and field team competes officially for the first time, running in the Keiser University Winter Open to kick off the indoor season.