WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State University will add two varsity sports teams for the 2027-28 academic year, with the Owls starting women's flag football and men's swimming and diving.

Westfield will become the first school in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference to sponsor flag football at the varsity level. It is anticipated that the Westfield will play as a club sport in the spring of 2027, and the varsity level in the spring of 2028.  

Westfield State Athletic Director Richard Lenfest Jr. said, "I am excited that we are going to be able to add two programs and more opportunities for our student-athletes."

In late May, the NCAA Committee on Access, Opportunity and Impact voted to recommend Divisions I, II and III sponsor legislation to add a National Collegiate Flag Football Championship. The committee oversees the Emerging Sports for Women program, which aims to grow participation and competitive opportunities for women's sports across the NCAA. Its first championship is projected to occur in spring 2028.

Women's flag football has been fueled by support from the National Football League and has seen explosive growth in participation across New England and the nation.

The New England Patriots sponsor leagues and championships for more than 40 Massachusetts High Schools that offer flag football.  Just over the border, the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference recently completed their second annual girls' flag football championships with Manchester and Plainville winning state titles – with both schools only about an hour's drive from Westfield –  helping establish a strong geographic footprint for competition in New England.

Westfield State University President Linda Thompson praised the addition of the Owls sports programs.

"Our student-athletes are the heart and soul of Westfield State University. The addition of women's flag football and men's swimming and diving builds upon the proud tradition and success of Owl Athletics while creating new opportunities for students to compete, lead, and grow. These programs strengthen the student experience, expand access to intercollegiate athletics, and help more students reach their full potential both on the field and in the classroom," she said.

According to data from RCX Sports, the official operating partner of NFL Flag, more than 800,000 youths from ages 5-17 participated in its leagues in 2025 – a 35 percent increase over two years prior.

Women's flag football will debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic games, as well.

"I am excited Westfield State is adding women's flag football," said Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Commissioner Angela Bauman. "This sport is exploding across the nation as a large part to the backing of the NFL.  We have been working with the Kraft organization to develop pipelines for their flag football athletes to compete at the collegiate level.  The data shows that girls flag football at the high school level is primarily made up of first-time athletes.  It is a great opportunity to serve this emerging population of future female athletes in this exciting new sport which I see becoming a NCAA sponsored championship sport soon and a MASCAC championship sport to follow."

Lenfest said that he envisions flag football having a roster of 20-24 athletes within three seasons.

The addition of men's swimming and diving will join the Owls existing women's program at the Ely Pool for 2027-28.  

Adding men's swimming helps the university take advantage of a significant renovation of the pool and the underlying mechanical systems, which had been in place since Ely Hall was completed in 1972.   Work completed included the study, design and construction in the pool area that included the resurfacing of the pool bowl and new tile lanes, updating the main drains to continue compliance, updating depth markers, and new HVAC  that included new dehumidification and ductwork in the pool arena.  This work adds to the women's locker room which was upgraded in 2024 along with the installation of the records board, and the new starting platforms in 2021.

It is anticipated that men's swimming and diving will eventually carry a roster of 20-24 recruited student-athletes – similar to the existing Owls women's program.

The Owls women's swimming and diving program has competed at the varsity level since the 1982-83 academic year, producing four All-American athletes, most recently Katie Sterpka '15, who was an honorable mention All-American in diving in 2015 on both the 1-and 3-meter diving boards.   Westfield's women currently compete in the Little East Conference, which also hosts a men's championship meet.

The University will conduct searches for head coaches for both programs this summer.

Westfield State University recently won its sixth-consecutive Smith Cup as the best overall athletics program in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference, and its twentieth overall – the most by any institution in the league since the Cup was first awarded in 1973.

About Westfield State University

Founded in 1839 by Horace Mann, Westfield State University is an education leader committed to providing every generation of students with a learning experience built on its founding principle as the first public co-educational college in America to offer an education without barrier to race, gender or economic status. This spirit of innovative thinking and social responsibility is forged in a curriculum of liberal arts and professional studies that creates a vital community of engaged learners who become confident, capable individuals prepared for leadership and service to society. 

For more information, visit us at www.westfield.ma.edu, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/westfieldstate, or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/WestfieldStateUniversity.