PITMAN, N.J. – The UW-Stevens Point athletic department in conjunction with the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) announced on Thursday (March 31) that the Pointers men's tennis program will become an affiliate member of the league beginning with the 2022-23 season. The Pointers will join the league as a member of the NJAC West Division comprising of UW-Eau Claire, UW-La Crosse and UW-Whitewater. The NJAC East Division includes New Jersey City University, Ramapo, Rutgers-Camden, The College of New Jersey and SUNY Oneonta.
 
"We are thrilled to be added as an NJAC affiliate member in the sport of men's tennis," said Brad Duckworth, UWSP Director of Athletics.  "NJAC affiliation aligns our men's tennis program with UW-Whitewater, UW-La Crosse and UW-Eau Claire as west programs.  Providing our student-athletes a path to the NCAA Tournament was the critical component to seeking membership; through the process it was clear the NJAC has similar values to the WIAC and our men's tennis athletes will have similar experiences as the rest of our student-athletes.  I couldn't me more thrilled and thankful to the NJAC membership for accepting us and we look forward to high-level competition for years to come."
 
UWSP is reinstating the men's tennis program with competition beginning this fall under head coach Matt Hockett. The men's program was discontinued in 1990 after more than 50 years of success. As part of the NJAC, UWSP will play a single round robin format against its West divisional teams with the West divisional winner facing the East divisional winner in the NJAC Championship with the winner receiving the league's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.
 
"We are excited to welcome the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point as our newest men's tennis affiliate member in the NJAC," said Kathryn Foster, President of The College of New Jersey, and Chair of the NJAC Presidents Council. "When we expanded our men's tennis membership several years ago, our goal was to provide a conference opportunity for several programs which had traditionally been searching for a conference home. We're excited to provide this same opportunity for the UW-Stevens Point men's tennis program while strengthening our overall conference by aligning with yet another outstanding institution."
 
In 2018-19, the NJAC sponsored men's tennis for the first time since 1983. A year later, the conference added SUNY Oneonta, UWEC, UWL and UWW as affiliate members. After a two-year NCAA-mandated waiting period, 2022 is the first year the NJAC has as automatic bid in men's tennis.
 
"On behalf of everyone associated with the NJAC, I'd like to officially welcome UW-Stevens Point as our newest men's tennis affiliate member," said Terry Small, Commissioner of the NJAC. "Since our league expansion in men's tennis several years ago, our affiliate members have truly been valued partners as we've worked to provide opportunities for all of our men's tennis student-athletes. I have no doubt that the addition of UW-Stevens Point will continue in that tradition as we continue to move forward."
 
The NJAC originated in 1957 and operated strictly as a men's sport athletic league until 1985 when the league members merged with their corresponding institutions in the Jersey Athletic Conference, a women's sport athletic conference. Since the founding of the conference in 1957, the NJAC has captured 63 NCAA Division III national team championships.