THREE MILE CREEK – Eddie Ibama and Kevin Dee from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics along with Dr.Thomas Trebon, president of Carroll College and Bruce Parker, mCC athletic director conducted a site visit at Oglala Lakota College on September 3.

“The committee met with college representatives including Tom Shortbull,, president, Arlene Quist, business manager, Mariln Pourier development director, Leslie Mesteth, registrar, Cindy Iron Cloud, financial aid, Jenny Rodin, faculty athletics representative, some instructors and students during the day as well as taking a tour of the Piya Wiconi campus,” said Mary Tobacco, OLC athletic director, “they told us about the NAIA and were here to assess our facilities, students, staff and curriculum.”

The NAIA stresses that it is a character driven intercollegiate athletic association. Fist organized in 1937 for basketball, the organization expanded its focus in 1952 and currently has 300 members in the U.S. and Canada that stress character and respect in athletics and academics.

“The two representatives from Carroll College in Helena, Mont. Were really excited about our interest in joining the NAIA,” said Tobacco, “they are a private school of about 1,400 students, we have just over 1,800 enrolled at OLC this fall – if we are accepted, it will mean some changes, right away; for our students to be eligible to compete they will to declare a major by their sophomore year, they will need to make normal progress each year towards their degree, be in a four year program and maintain a minimum 2.0 grade point average it would also mean this year would be our last to compete at AIHEC, our schedule would change to all four year college opponents, no junior colleges.’

OLC has been working at upgrading their schedule as the Lady Brave Hearts women’s basketball team plan to open against the S.D Tech Lady Hard Rockers at home Oct. 26.

“This is an exciting time,” said Tobacco, “the NAIA Council of Presidents meets Sept. 27, we’ll know the next day if we are in.”