Centennial Conference
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The Centennial Conference is an intercollegiate athletic conference which competes in the NCAA's Division III. Chartered member teams are located in Maryland and Pennsylvania; associate members are also located in New York and Virginia.
Eleven private colleges compose the chartered member teams of the Centennial Conference. Five of its 11 members rank among the top 50 national liberal arts colleges and Johns Hopkins University is ranked sixth among national universities.
On average, Centennial members sponsor 19 varsity teams. Conference members have won seventeen NCAA team titles: Johns Hopkins women's cross country (2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021), Gettysburg women's lacrosse (2011, 2017, 2018), Haverford men's cross country (2010), Franklin & Marshall women's lacrosse (2007, 2009), Ursinus field hockey (2006), Washington men's lacrosse (1998), and Washington men's tennis (1994, 1997).
History
According to the Centennial Conference's website, "On June 4, 1981, Keith Spalding, then-president of Franklin & Marshall College, made the announcement that "eight private colleges found it timely and appropriate to form a round-robin football schedule among institutions with similar attitudes and practices in intercollegiate football competition." With that statement, the Centennial Conference was born. Those private colleges were Dickinson College, Franklin & Marshall College, Gettysburg College, Johns Hopkins University, Muhlenberg College, Swarthmore College, Ursinus College, and Western Maryland College, later renamed and now known as McDaniel College.
The conference moved from a football-only conference to an all-sports conference after a 1991 feasibility study. The study also recommended to expand from eight schools to eleven. The other schools recommended were Bryn Mawr College, Haverford College, and Washington College. Those three schools accepted and became charter members in 1992 as the conference expanded its sports offerings.
All of the charter members defected from the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC). Johns Hopkins and McDaniel College both played in the Mason–Dixon Conference prior to entering the MAC in 1975.
Recent changes
On August 21, 2019, Cabrini University joined the Centennial as an affiliate member for women's golf to replace Neumann University's spot, effective in the 2020 spring season (2019–20 academic year).
On August 31, 2022, football affiliates Juniata College, Moravian University and Susquehanna University departed for a new football league in the Landmark Conference, beginning the 2023 fall season (2022–23 academic year).
On August 6, 2024, Carnegie Mellon University will join the Centennial as an associate football member, effective beginning the 2025 fall season (2025–26 academic year).
Chronological timeline
- 1981 – On June 4, 1981, the Centennial Conference was founded as a football-only league, then known as the Centennial Football Conference. Charter members included Dickinson College, Franklin & Marshall College, Gettysburg College, Johns Hopkins University, Muhlenberg College, Swarthmore College, Ursinus College, and Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College), beginning the 1981 fall season (1981–82 academic year).
- 1992 – The Centennial Football Conference was rebranded as the Centennial Conference when the conference expanded to add other sports, beginning the 1992–93 academic year. Bryn Mawr College, Haverford College and Washington College also joined the newly-formed all-sports conference.
- 1998 – Washington and Lee University joined the Centennial as an affiliate member for men's wrestling in the 1998–99 academic year.
- 2001 – Johns Hopkins left the University Athletic Association (UAA) to fully align with the Centennial Conference for all the sports being sponsored in the 2001–02 academic year.
- 2004 – The United States Merchant Marine Academy (Merchant Marine) and Stevens Institute of Technology (Stevens or Stevens Tech) joined the Centennial as affiliate members for men's wrestling in the 2004-05 academic year.
- 2007 – Juniata College and Moravian College (now Moravian University) joined the Centennial as affiliate members for football in the 2007 fall season (2007–08 academic year).
- 2009 – Susquehanna University joined the Centennial as an affiliate member for women's golf in the 2010 spring season (2009–10 academic year).
- 2010 – Susquehanna added football into its Centennial affiliate membership in the 2010 fall season (2010–11 academic year).
- 2012 – New York University joined the Centennial as an affiliate member for men's wrestling in the 2012–13 academic year.
- 2016 – NYU left the Centennial as an affiliate member for wrestling after the 2015–16 academic year.
- 2017: Susquehanna left the Centennial as an affiliate member for women's golf after the 2017 spring season (2016–17 academic year). Marymount University and Neumann University joined the Centennial as affiliate members for women's golf in the 2018 spring season (2017–18 academic year).
- 2019: Two institutions left the Centennial as affiliate members, both effective after the 2018–19 academic year: Neumann for women's golf and Stevens for men's wrestling Cabrini University joined the Centennial as an affiliate member for women's golf to replace Neumann's spot in the 2020 spring season (2019–20 academic year).
- 2022 – Washington and Lee University left as an affiliate member in wrestling for their primary conference home, the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC), after the 2021–22 academic year.
- 2023 – Juniata, Moravian and Susquehanna left the Centennial as football affiliates for a new football league within their primary conference home, the Landmark Conference, after the 2022 fall season (2022–23 academic year).
- 2024 – Cabrini left the Centennial as an affiliate member for women's golf after the 2024 spring season (2024–25 academic year); as the school ceased operations in June 2024.
- 2025 – Carnegie Mellon University joined the Centennial as an associate football member, beginning the 2025 fall season (2025–26 academic year).
Member schools
Current members
The Centennial currently has 11 full members, all are private schools:
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Acceptance Rate | Nickname | Colors | Joined | Football |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bryn Mawr College | Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania | 1885 | Nonsectarian | 1,381 | 38% | Owls | 1992 | No | |
| Dickinson College | Carlisle, Pennsylvania | 1783 | Nonsectarian | 2,420 | 35% | Red Devils | 1981 | Yes | |
| Franklin & Marshall College | Lancaster, Pennsylvania | 1787 | Nonsectarian | 1,911 | 28% | Diplomats | 1981 | Yes | |
| Gettysburg College | Gettysburg, Pennsylvania | 1832 | Lutheran ELCA | 2,384 | 56% | Bullets | 1981 | Yes | |
| Haverford College | Haverford, Pennsylvania | 1833 | Nonsectarian | 1,268 | 12.9% | Fords | 1992 | No | |
| Johns Hopkins University | Baltimore, Maryland | 1876 | Nonsectarian | 20,174 | 6.5% | Blue Jays | 1981 | Yes | |
| McDaniel College | Westminster, Maryland | 1867 | Nonsectarian | 1,559 | 70% | Green Terror | 1981 | Yes | |
| Muhlenberg College | Allentown, Pennsylvania | 1848 | Lutheran ELCA | 2,408 | 68% | Mules | 1981 | Yes | |
| Swarthmore College | Swarthmore, Pennsylvania | 1864 | Nonsectarian | 1,543 | 8% | Garnet | 1981 | No | |
| Ursinus College | Collegeville, Pennsylvania | 1869 | Secular | 1,556 | 80% | Bears | 1981 | Yes | |
| Washington College | Chestertown, Maryland | 1782 | Nonsectarian | 1,479 | 57% | Shoremen & Shorewomen | 1992 | No |
Notes
Affiliate members
The Centennial currently has three affiliate members, two private schools and a public school:
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined | Centennial sport | Primary conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | 1900 | Nonsectarian | 10,875 | Tartans | 2025 | football | University (UAA) |
| Marymount University | Arlington, Virginia | 1950 | Catholic (RSHM) | 3,684 | Saints | 2017 | women's golf | Atlantic East (AEC) |
| United States Merchant Marine Academy (Merchant Marine) | Kings Point, New York | 1943 | Federal | 1,011 | Mariners | 2004 | wrestling | Skyline |
Notes
Former affiliate members
The Centennial had eight former affiliate members, all were private schools:
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined | Left | Centennial sport | Primary conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabrini University | Radnor, Pennsylvania | 1957 | Catholic (Missionary Sisters) | 1,759 | Cavaliers | 2019 | 2024 | women's golf | N/A |
| Juniata College | Huntingdon, Pennsylvania | 1876 | Church of the Brethren | 1,568 | Eagles | 2007 | 2023 | football | Landmark |
| Moravian University | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | 1742 | Moravian | 1,568 | Greyhounds | 2007 | 2023 | football | Landmark |
| Neumann University | Aston, Pennsylvania | 1965 | Catholic (Franciscan) | 3,000 | Knights | 2017 | 2019 | women's golf | Atlantic East (AEC) |
| New York University | New York City | 1832 | Nonsectarian | 22,280 | Violets | 2011 | 2016 | wrestling | University (UAA) |
| Stevens Institute of Technology | Hoboken, New Jersey | 1870 | Nonsectarian | 5,260 | Ducks | 2004 | 2019 | wrestling | MAC Freedom |
| Susquehanna University | Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania | 1858 | Lutheran ELCA | 2,195 | River Hawks | 2009w.gf. | 2017w.gf. | women's golf | Landmark |
| 2010fb. | 2023fb. | football | |||||||
| Washington and Lee University | Lexington, Virginia | 1749 | Nonsectarian | 1,830 | Generals | 1998 | 2022 | wrestling | Old Dominion (ODAC) |
Notes
Membership timeline
Full member (all sports) Full member (non-football) Associate member (football) Associate member (sport)
Sports
| A divisional format was used for basketball (M / W) from 1992–93 to 2002–03. | |
| East Bryn Mawr Haverford Muhlenberg Swarthmore Ursinus Washington | West Dickinson Franklin & Marshall Gettysburg Johns Hopkins McDaniel |
The Centennial Conference sponsors championships in the following sports:
| Sport | Men's | Women's |
|---|---|---|
| Baseball | Y | |
| Basketball | Y | Y |
| Cross Country | Y | Y |
| Field Hockey | Y | |
| Football | Y | |
| Golf | Y | Y |
| Lacrosse | Y | Y |
| Soccer | Y | Y |
| Softball | Y | |
| Swimming | Y | Y |
| Tennis | Y | Y |
| Track and field (indoor) | Y | Y |
| Track and field (outdoor) | Y | Y |
| Volleyball | Y | |
| Wrestling | Y |
Men's sponsored sports by school
| School | Baseball | Basketball | Cross country | Football | Golf | Lacrosse | Soccer | Swimming | Tennis | Track & Field (indoor) | Track & Field (outdoor) | Wrestling | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dickinson | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | 11 |
| Franklin & Marshall | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | 11 |
| Gettysburg | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 12 |
| Haverford | Y | Y | Y | N | N | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | N | 9 |
| Johns Hopkins | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 9 |
| McDaniel | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 12 |
| Muhlenberg | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 11 |
| Swarthmore | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | 10 |
| Ursinus | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 12 |
| Washington | Y | Y | N | N | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | N | N | 6 |
| Totals | 10 | 10 | 9 | 7+1 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 5+1 | 104+2 |
| Merchant Marine | Y | 1 | |||||||||||
| Carnegie Mellon | Y | 1 |
Notes
Men's varsity sports not sponsored by the Centennial Conference that are played by Centennial schools
| School | Fencing | Rowing | Sailing | Squash | Trap & Skeet | Water Polo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dickinson | N | N | N | MASC | N | N |
| Franklin & Marshall | N | MARC | N | MASC | N | N |
| Haverford | MACFA | N | N | CSA | N | N |
| Johns Hopkins | MACFA | N | N | N | N | MAWPC |
| Washington | N | MARC | MAISA | N | ACUI | N |
Women's sponsored sports by school
| School | Basketball | Cross country | Field Hockey | Golf | Lacrosse | Soccer | Softball | Swimming | Tennis | Track & Field (indoor) | Track & Field (outdoor) | Volleyball | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bryn Mawr | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 10 |
| Dickinson | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 12 |
| Franklin & Marshall | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 12 |
| Gettysburg | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 12 |
| Haverford | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 10 |
| Johns Hopkins | Y | Y | Y | N | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 8 |
| McDaniel | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 12 |
| Muhlenberg | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 11 |
| Swarthmore | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 11 |
| Ursinus | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 12 |
| Washington | Y | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | N | Y | 8 |
| Totals | 11 | 10 | 11 | 6+1 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 118+1 |
| Marymount | Y | 1 |
Notes
Women's varsity sports not sponsored by the Centennial Conference that are played by Centennial schools
| School | Badminton | Fencing | Gymnastics | Rowing | Sailing | Squash | Trap & Skeet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bryn Mawr | Independent | N | N | MARC | N | N | N |
| Dickinson | N | N | N | N | N | MASC | N |
| Franklin & Marshall | N | N | N | MARC | N | MASC | N |
| Haverford | N | EWFC/NIWFA | N | N | N | CSA | N |
| Johns Hopkins | N | MACFA | N | N | N | N | N |
| Swarthmore | Independent | N | N | N | N | N | N |
| Ursinus | N | N | NCGA | N | N | N | N |
| Washington | N | N | N | MARC | MAISA | N | ACUI |
Current champions
| Season | Sport | Women's Champion | Men's Champion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2025 | Cross Country | Johns Hopkins (X17) | Johns Hopkins (X6) |
| Field Hockey | Johns Hopkins (X11) | —N/a | |
| Football | —N/a | Franklin & Marshall (X8) | |
| Soccer | Johns Hopkins (X18) | Dickinson (X2) | |
| Volleyball | Johns Hopkins (X12) | —N/a | |
| Winter 2024–25 | Basketball | Gettysburg (X6) | Franklin & Marshall (x9) |
| Swimming | Swarthmore (X7) | Johns Hopkins (X1) | |
| Indoor Track & Field | Johns Hopkins (X14) | Johns Hopkins (X12) | |
| Wrestling | —N/a | Ursinus (X14) | |
| Spring 2025 | Baseball | —N/a | Johns Hopkins (X19) |
| Golf | Gettysburg (X12) | Gettysburg (X5) | |
| Lacrosse | Franklin & Marshall (X11) | Dickinson (X8) | |
| Softball | Swarthmore (X2) | —N/a | |
| Tennis | Swarthmore (X6) | Swarthmore (X3) | |
| Outdoor Track and Field | Johns Hopkins (X15) | Johns Hopkins (X8) | |