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WICHITA, Kan. - A new journey begins for Wichita State Athletics July 1, as the Shockers officially join the American Athletic Conference.

The move to The American presents the opportunity to regularly test Shocker student-athletes against traditionally strong competition, on a grander stage. This new chapter in Shocker Athletics is expected to provide excitement and challenges for the 15 programs that will compete in The American.

"This is the end of one phase and the beginning of another," said Darron Boatright, Wichita State Director of Athletics. "We're going to continue to push, we're going to continue to grow. We're going to continue to have the same expectations for our athletic department, our teams, our student-athletes and coaches, as we always have."

The 2017-18 membership includes the University of Central Florida, the University of Cincinnati, the University of Connecticut, East Carolina University, the University of Houston, the University of Memphis, Southern Methodist University, the University of South Florida, Temple University and Tulane University. The U.S. Naval Academy is a football-only member and Wichita State is a basketball and Olympic sports-only member.

In honor of the move to The American, Wichita State is giving fans an early opportunity to purchase season tickets for volleyball, women's basketball, baseball and softball. To view season ticket prices for all sports click here. Season tickets for men's basketball are already sold out, but fans can join the waiting list by clicking here.
 
"I want our student-athletes to compete for championships," said Wichita State President Dr. John Bardo. "I want them to be on the national stage, because that's why they do what they do. Joining The American gives us that opportunity."

Learn more about the move to The American and its impact on Wichita State University at www.wichita.edu/aac. 

Wichita State athletic teams have excelled recently on the national stage. Men's basketball has made it to the NCAA Tournament six straight seasons and 14 times overall. The Shocker volleyball team has been to the NCAA Tournament nine of the last 10 years and 10 times in program history. The softball team recorded its first ever NCAA Tournament win in 2016 in the Oklahoma Regional. The Shockers have won Missouri Valley Conference Championships in all 15 of Wichita State's Division I sports. In 2015-16, WSU collected a school-record nine MVC team Championships (volleyball, men's basketball, women's golf, men's indoor and outdoor track & field, women's outdoor track & field, softball, men's tennis and women's tennis).

The Shockers sponsor 15 varsity sports. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, tennis and indoor and outdoor track and field. Women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, softball, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and field and volleyball. Wichita State participates in every sport sponsored by The American except football, rowing, soccer, swimming and diving and The American sponsors every sport the Shockers participate in.

Wichita State's first American contest is Sept. 22 when the volleyball team plays Temple in Philadelphia. The first home event will be Sept. 29 when volleyball hosts South Florida. Full schedules will be released later this summer.

Fans will begin to see American Athletic Conference changes around facilities and on campus in the near future.