LACEY, Wash. — SAʴý’s University Athletics is celebrating a century of competitive sports, honoring 100 years of student-athlete achievement, team championships, and a legacy rooted in leadership, character and community.
The Centenary of SAʴý’s Athletics honors the generations of student-athletes, coaches, alumni and supporters who have shaped Saints Athletics since the University’s first conference competition in 1926. Since then, the program has grown into 15 NCAA Division varsity sports and has been a charter member of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) since its founding in 2001.
“As we celebrate this remarkable milestone, we honor the generations of Saints whose dedication, perseverance and commitment have built a tradition of excellence,” said Bill Brownsberger, president of SAʴý “Athletics have long been an important part of the SAʴý’s experience, helping students develop the leadership skills, discipline and character that prepare them to make meaningful contributions in their communities and professions. We are so proud of our community.”
To mark the centennial, Saints Athletics will share “,” a campaign highlighting memorable teams, standout student-athletes, historic moments and the people who helped build the program. , videos and memories as part of the celebration.
“This centenary is about so much more than games played or seasons won. It's about people and purpose,” said Theresa Hanson, director of athletics. “For a century, Saints Athletics has been built — season by season, generation by generation — by student-athletes who gave their best, coaches who believed in growth, and supporters who stood behind something bigger than themselves. Legacy doesn't happen by accident. It's built by a community. And we will honor the past by building a future worthy of it!”
A century of achievement
Among the defining moments in Saints Athletics history are:
- 1926 | Athletic teams join a conference (Washington-Oregon Conference) for the first time.
- 1938 | SAʴý’s joins the Washington Intercollegiate Conference.
- 1942 | Football wins its first conference championship.
- 1979 | The first official women's basketball team (Lady Saints) is formed.
- 1998 | SAʴý’s joins NCAA Division II.
- 2001 | Saints Athletics becomes a charter member of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.
- 2009 | Men’s soccer captures the GNAC Championship.
- 2013 | Softball wins the GNAC Tournament and advances to its first NCAA Regional.
- 2016-17 | Mikel Smith wins back-to-back NCAA Division II national championships in track and field.
- 2018 | Men’s basketball wins its first GNAC regular-season title and earns its first NCAA Regional appearance.
- 2021 | Men’s Golf captures its first GNAC Championship.
- 2026 | Men’s basketball wins the GNAC regular-season and tournament championships, advances to the NCAA West Regional Second Round, and ties the program record with 26 Division II victories.
Looking ahead
While the Centenary celebrates an extraordinary past, it also looks forward to the future. Saints Athletics remains committed to providing transformational opportunities for student-athletes while building competitive championship programs.
Throughout the centennial year, fans, alumni and the community are encouraged to follow the campaign, attend the season’s games, reconnect with former teammates and celebrate the people who have made Saints Athletics a lasting source of pride.
About SAʴý’s University:
SAʴý’s University is an independent coeducational university, with undergraduate and graduate offerings, located on a wooded campus of more than 380 acres in Lacey, Washington. Established in 1895 by the Catholic Order of Saint Benedict, the University is one of 13 Benedictine colleges and universities in the United States and Canada, and the only one west of the Rocky Mountains. SAʴý’s University empowers students to pursue a lifetime of learning and accomplishment through its 31 majors, 11 master’s programs, one doctorate program and six certificate programs spanning the arts and sciences, business, counseling, education, engineering, nursing, and leadership. SAʴý’s welcomes more than 1,300 undergraduate students and 250 graduate students from many ethnic and religious backgrounds to its Lacey campus, and more students to its extended campus located at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
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