# Centennial Conference

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 Centennial Conference. Five of its 11 members of the Centennial Conference 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.

### 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.
* 1992 - The Centennial Football Conference became the Centennial Conference when the conference expanded to add other sports, effective in 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, effective 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, effective 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, effective in the 2004-05 academic year.
* 2007 - Juniata College and Moravian College joined the Centennial as affiliate members for football, effective in the 2007 fall season (2007-08 academic year).
* 2010 - Susquehanna University joined the Centennial as an affiliate member for football and women's golf, effective in the 2010-11 academic year.
* 2012 - New York University joined the Centennial as an affiliate member for men's wrestling, effective in the 2012-13 academic year.
* 2016 - NYU left the Centennial as an affiliate member for wrestling, effective after the 2015-16 academic year.
* 2017 - Susquehanna left the Centennial as an affiliate member for women's golf, effective after the 2017 spring season (2016-17 academic year).
* 2017 - Marymount University and Neumann University joined the Centennial as affiliate members for women's golf, effective in the 2018 spring season (2017-18 academic year).
* 2019 - Two institutions left the Centennial as affiliate members: Neumann for women's golf and Stevens for men's wrestling, effective after the 2018-19 academic year.
* 2019 - Cabrini University joined the Centennial as an affiliate member for women's golf to replace Neumann's spot, effective in the 2020 spring season (2019-20 academic year).
* 2022 - Washington and Lee University departed as an affiliate member in wrestling for their primary conference, the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.
* 2023 - Football affiliates Juniata, Moravian and Susquehanna depart for the new football league started in the Landmark Conference, effective after the 2022 fall season (2022-23 academic year).
* 2024 - Cabrini University ceased operations in June 2024, ending its time in the Centennial as an affiliate member for women's golf.
* 2025 - Carnegie Mellon University will join the Centennial as an associate football member, effective for 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 | Joined | Football |
| Bryn Mawr College | Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania | 1885 | Nonsectarian | 1,381 | 38% | Owls | 1992–93 | No |
| Dickinson College | Carlisle, Pennsylvania | 1783 | Nonsectarian | 2,420 | 35% | Red Devils | 1981–82 | Yes |
| Franklin & Marshall College | Lancaster, Pennsylvania | 1787 | Nonsectarian | 2,255 | 35% | Diplomats | 1981–82 | Yes |
| Gettysburg College | Gettysburg, Pennsylvania | 1832 | Lutheran ELCA | 2,384 | 56% | Bullets | 1981–82 | Yes |
| Haverford College | Haverford, Pennsylvania | 1833 | Nonsectarian | 1,268 | 12.9% | Fords | 1992–93 | No |
| Johns Hopkins University | Baltimore, Maryland | 1876 | Nonsectarian | 20,174 | 6.5% | Blue Jays | 1981–82 | Yes |
| McDaniel College | Westminster, Maryland | 1867 | Nonsectarian | 1,559 | 70% | Green Terror | 1981–82 | Yes |
| Muhlenberg College | Allentown, Pennsylvania | 1848 | Lutheran ELCA | 2,408 | 68% | Mules | 1981–82 | Yes |
| Swarthmore College | Swarthmore, Pennsylvania | 1864 | Nonsectarian | 1,543 | 8% | Garnet | 1981–82 | No |
| Ursinus College | Collegeville, Pennsylvania | 1869 | Secular | 1,556 | 80% | Bears | 1981–82 | Yes |
| Washington College | Chestertown, Maryland | 1782 | Nonsectarian | 1,479 | 92% | Shoremen (men's) Shorewomen (women's) | 1992–93 | No |
* ↑ This institution is a women's college, therefore it does not sponsor men's teams.
* ↑ Johns Hopkins had dual athletic conference membership with the University Athletic Association from 1992–93 to 2000–01, then the Blue Jays left the UAA in order to fully align with the Centennial Conference. Additionally, its men's and women's lacrosse teams do not play in the Centennial Conference, but instead play as Division I teams in the Big Ten Conference.

### Affiliate members

The Centennial currently has two affiliate members, a private school and a public school:
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined | Primary conference | Centennial sport |
| Marymount University | Arlington, Virginia | 1950 | Catholic (RSHM) | 3,684 | Saints | 2017–18 | Atlantic East (AEC) | women's golf |
| United States Merchant Marine Academy (Merchant Marine) | Kings Point, New York | 1943 | Federal | 1,011 | Mariners | 2004–05 | Skyline | wrestling |

### Future affiliate members

The Centennial will have one new affiliate member, a private school:
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joining | Primary conference | Centennial sport | Current conference in affiliate sport |
| Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | 1900 | Nonsectarian | 10,875 | Tartans | 2025–26 | University (UAA) | football | Presidents' (PAC) |

### Former affiliate members

The Centennial had eight former affiliate members, all were private schools:
| Institution | Location | Founded | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Joined | Left | Primary conference | Centennial sport |
| Cabrini University | Radnor, Pennsylvania | 1957 | Catholic (Missionary Sisters) | 1,759 | Cavaliers | 2019–20 | 2023–24 | N/A | women's golf |
| Juniata College | Huntingdon, Pennsylvania | 1876 | Church of the Brethren | 1,568 | Eagles | 2007–08 | 2022–23 | Landmark | football |
| Moravian University | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | 1742 | Moravian | 1,568 | Greyhounds | 2007–08 | 2022–23 | Landmark | football |
| Neumann University | Aston, Pennsylvania | 1965 | Catholic (Franciscan) | 3,000 | Knights | 2017–18 | 2018–19 | Atlantic East (AEC) | women's golf |
| New York University | New York City | 1832 | Nonsectarian | 22,280 | Violets | 2011–12 | 2015–16 | University (UAA) | wrestling |
| Stevens Institute of Technology | Hoboken, New Jersey | 1870 | Nonsectarian | 5,260 | Ducks | 2004–05 | 2018–19 | MAC Freedom | wrestling |
| Susquehanna University | Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania | 1858 | Lutheran ELCA | 2,195 | River Hawks | 2010–11 | 2016–17 | Landmark | women's golf |
| Susquehanna University | Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania | 1858 | Lutheran ELCA | 2,195 | River Hawks | 2010–11 | 2022–23 | Landmark | football |
| Washington and Lee University | Lexington, Virginia | 1749 | Nonsectarian | 1,830 | Generals | 1998–99 | 2021–22 | Old Dominion (ODAC) | wrestling |

#### Notes

* ↑ Cabrini closed following the 2023–24 academic year and was acquired by Villanova University.

### Membership timeline
## 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:
Conference 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 | N | 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 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 5+1 | 104+2 |
| Merchant Marine | | | | | | | | | | | | Y | 1 |
| Carnegie Mellon | | | | Y | | | | | | | | | 1 |

#### Notes

* ↑ Franklin & Marshall sponsors men's wrestling, however, the team does not compete in the Centennial Conference, but instead competes as a Division I team in the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association.
* ↑ Johns Hopkins sponsors men's lacrosse, however, the team does not compete in the Centennial Conference, but instead competes as a Division I team in the Big Ten Conference.
* ↑ Johns Hopkins sponsors men's swimming, however, the team is yet to attend a conference championship. They were a member of the Bluegrass Mountain Conference, a Division II swimming conference, from the 2009-10 season until the 2015-16 season, the team now functions as a swimming independent.

#### 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 | N | 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 | 8 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 118+1 |
| Marymount | | | | Y | | | | | | | | | 1 |

#### Notes

* ↑ Johns Hopkins sponsors women's lacrosse, however, the team does not play in the Centennial Conference, but instead play as Division I teams in the Big Ten Conference.
* ↑ Johns Hopkins sponsors women's swimming, however, the team is yet to attend a conference championship. They were a member of the Bluegrass Mountain Conference, a Division II swimming conference, from the 2009-10 season until the 2015-16 season, the team now functions as a swimming independent.

#### 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 2022 | Cross Country | Johns Hopkins (X15) | Johns Hopkins (X14) |
| Fall 2022 | Field Hockey | Johns Hopkins (X7) | — |
| Fall 2022 | Football | — | Susquehanna (X1) |
| Fall 2022 | Soccer | Muhlenberg (X7) | Johns Hopkins (X15) |
| Fall 2022 | Volleyball | Johns Hopkins (X9) | — |
| Winter 2022-23 | Basketball | Swarthmore (X2) | Gettysburg (x4) |
| Winter 2022-23 | Swimming | Swarthmore (X4) | Swarthmore (X4) |
| Winter 2022-23 | Indoor Track & Field | Johns Hopkins (X11) | Johns Hopkins (X8) |
| Winter 2022-23 | Wrestling | — | Ursinus (X12) |
| Spring 2022 | Baseball | — | Swarthmore (X1) |
| Spring 2022 | Golf | Marymount (X2) | Franklin and Marshall (X1) |
| Spring 2022 | Lacrosse | Gettysburg (X3) | Dickinson (X1) |
| Spring 2022 | Softball | Muhlenberg (X1) | — |
| Spring 2022 | Tennis | Johns Hopkins (X15) | Johns Hopkins (X16) |
| Spring 2022 | Outdoor Track and Field | Johns Hopkins (X12) | Ursinus (X1) |