(Duluth, MN) — The College of St. Scholastica will join the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in 2021. The Duluth-based N-C-A-A Division III school has been a member of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference and will compete in the U-MAC for the 2020-21 seasons. The Saints were approached by the MIAC this past April about the possibility of joining the league and athletic director Franco Bari says after extensive exploration and research, they agreed to hop on board. Bari says they feel the MIAC is a good fit for St. Scholastica as a Minnesota private college with similar missions to other MIAC institutions. Bari says they will enhance certain areas of their athletic department, including budgets, to compete against other MIAC teams. St. Scholastica has had much success competing for conference titles in the U-MAC over the years and Bari says they will do what it takes to compete for MIAC championships, as well. St. Scholastica competes in 22 varsity sports. In addition, Macalester will re-join the MIAC for football starting in 2021. The MIAC had an opening in membership since St. Thomas announced it would leave the conference after next season. Football will begin a divisional format in the 2021 season, which will feature two divisions with five teams each.
College of St. Scholastica Director of Athletics Franco Bari spoke with MNN Sports Director Mike Grimm:
