Sports sponsorship: Saint Leo University announced that men's lacrosse and women's swimming will become the Lions' 14th and 15th varsity sports programs during the 2005-06 school year ... Wingate University will add men's swimming during fall 2005. With the addition of the sport, Wingate will sponsor 17 varsity teams. Kirk Sanocki, currently the women's coach, also will coach the men's team ... Bryant University has announced the addition of women's swimming and diving as a varsity program to begin in fall 2005. At the same time, the school announced the reinstatement of its men's swimming and diving program. Bryant also will discontinue its varsity women's golf program. The changes will bring the number of varsity sports offered at Bryant to 22.

Miscellaneous: Ralph McFillen, commissioner of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, was honored September 22 with the Asa Bushnell Outstanding Commissioner Award from the All-American Football Foundation at its 64th Banquet of Champions. "I'm honored and pleased to be recognized," said McFillen. "The All-American Football Foundation is to be commended for its support to football at all levels." McFillen is in his eighth year as MIAA commissioner. He also has served as commissioner of the Gulf South Conference and the Metro Conference in Division I ... They say that to the victor goes the spoils, but with Grand Valley State University's national championship football team, success meant an elongated road trip -- perhaps one of the longest football road stints ever that was not caused by construction or other extenuating factors. The Lakers won their last two 2003 regular-season games at the University of Indianapolis and the University of Findlay. They made the playoffs, but -- because of regional rankings -- they were sent on the road for rounds 1, 2 and 3 against Bentley College, Saginaw Valley State University and Texas A&M University-Kingsville. Victories in those games earned the Lakers a berth in the 2003 Division II Football Championship in Florence, Alabama, where they defeated the University of North Dakota. Then, to open the 2004 season, Grand Valley State played at Ferris State University and Gannon University. The final road tally: eight consecutive games away from home in which the Lakers outscored their opponents by an average score of 36-10. The Lakers finally returned home September 11 (to an expanded stadium) and celebrated with a victory over Indianapolis ... The Division II National Championships Festival has been nominated by Sports Travel Magazine as collegiate sports event of the year ... Jenna Cuts of Nyack College broke the Division II women's soccer record for goals in a game September 11, scoring eight in a 13-0 victory over Medgar Evers College. The previous record was seven goals, tied earlier in September by Jocelyn Savastano of Saint Anselm College and shared by Savastano, Liz Jallo of Carson-Newman College and Missy Gregg of Christian Brothers University.

-- Compiled by David Pickle