NWACC Moves Forward With Sanctioning Of Division III Sports

NorthWest Arkansas Community College is moving ahead with plans to offer sanctioned baseball and softball under Division III, perhaps fielding its first team as soon as the fall of 2016.

A committee chosen to evaluate sanctioned sports at the two-year college laid out their plan before a sparse group at Wednesday’s (Aug. 27) committee meeting on the college’s main Bentonville campus.

The sports committee was appointed by Ric Clifford, the NWACC board chairman, and the committee will make a recommendation or report to the full Board of Trustees. Any proposal from the committee must have approval from the Board of Trustees before the program can be fully implemented.

Todd Schwartz, board trustee, said the committee believes the college can field a team with local recruits from the two-county area at a cost of $50,000 per team annually.

“We will be looking to the community to help us raise $150,000 for the first year, which gives us a 50% buffer for contingency costs,” Schwartz said.

What could happen next? Kim Souza with our content partner, The City Wire, reports here.