Warner Royals
Athletic teams representing Warner University
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Warner Royals are the athletic teams for Warner University in Lake Wales, Florida, in intercollegiate sports as a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA),[1] primarily competing in the Sun Conference (formerly known as the Florida Sun Conference (FSC) until after the 2007–08 school year) for most of its sports since the 1990–91 academic year;[2][3] while its men's volleyball team competes in the Mid-South Conference (MSC). They are also a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), primarily competing as an independent in the South Region of the Division I level. Their rivals are the Webber Warriors.
Mid-South (men's volleyball)
| Warner Royals | |
|---|---|
| |
| University | Warner University |
| Association | NAIA |
| Conference | The Sun (primary) Mid-South (men's volleyball) |
| Athletic director | Chrissy Moskovits |
| Location | Lake Wales, Florida |
| First season | 1973 |
| Varsity teams | 19 (7 men's, 9 women's, 3 co-ed) |
| Football stadium | Tye Athletic Field |
| Basketball arena | Turner Athletic Center |
| Baseball stadium | Royals Baseball Field |
| Softball stadium | Daly Field |
| Soccer stadium | Royals Soccer Field |
| Lacrosse stadium | Tye Athletic Field |
| Nickname | Royals |
| Colors | Blue and Gold |
| Website | warnerroyals |
Varsity teams
Warner competes in 19 intercollegiate varsity sports[4]
| Men's sports | Women's sports |
|---|---|
| Baseball | Basketball |
| Basketball | Beach volleyball |
| Cross country | Cross country |
| Football | Flag football |
| Soccer | Lacrosse |
| Track and field | Soccer |
| Volleyball | Softball |
| Track and field | |
| Volleyball | |
| Co-ed sports | |
Clay target | |
eSports | |
Strength sports | |
Football
The university added football for the 2013 season.[5] The team initially played as an NAIA Independent program with a mixed schedule of NAIA, NCAA Division II and NCAA Division I FCS competition.[6] The Royals left independent status after the inaugural season when The Sun Conference announced football as a conference sport starting in the 2014 season.[7] After two seasons, the conference announced a football merger with the Mid-South Conference in 2016.[8] Warner and the other conference rivals became affiliate members in the Mid-South, participating in the Sun Division for football.[9] Their football team gained national recognition after losing 98–0 to Stephen F. Austin on September 24, 2022.
Men's volleyball
Warner University was the first college/university to offer a varsity men's volleyball program in the state of Florida. The men's volleyball program participates in the SEC conference.[10] The program initially competed in the Mid-America Men's Volleyball Intercollegiate Conference (MAMVIC). The program made back-to-back appearances in the NAIA Men's Volleyball National Invitational Tournament in 2011 and 2012.
