SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College women's water polo team has been accepted into the Collegiate Water Polo Association for conference affiliation beginning with the spring 2019 season, head coach Mark Lawrence has announced. The Kangaroo water polo program, currently competing at the club level, will transition to full varsity program status for the 2018-2019 academic year.

The 'Roos will compete in the CWPA Division III West Division, which includes Macalester (Minnesota), Carthage (Wisconsin), Monmouth (Illinois), and Wittenberg (Ohio). The CWPA Division III East Division includes Washington & Jefferson (Pennsylvania), Penn State-Behrend, Grove City (Pennsylvania), and Connecticut College.

"We're very excited about the opportunity to compete in the CWPA," said Lawrence. "The conference boasts a number of strong programs and outstanding coaching, and it will be great for our program to be able to play against schools similar to Austin College."

The team's schedule will include a double round robin format in conference play against the other CWPA DIII West Division teams, with the CWPA championships featuring programs from both the West and East Divisions.

The CWPA consists of four-year colleges and universities, and features both a Division I level and a Division III level. Division I programs in the CWPA include Michigan, Princeton, Indiana, Harvard, Brown, Bucknell, George Washington, Hartwick, and Saint Francis.