OAKVILLE, Ont. - The Sheridan Athletic Department announced today that it will launch a varsity cross-country team in the fall of 2014, reviving a sport that had been dormant since the early 1990s.

"The re-birth of cross-country will be an exciting adventure for us," said Sheridan athletic director, Jim Flack. "It will be a while before we even consider any other additions to our varsity team lineup, and we felt as though cross-country finalized the stabilization of our programs from where it was 15 years ago."

In the late 1990s, budget restrictions brought the Double-Blue varsity portfolio down to a paltry two teams, men's basketball and women's volleyball.

Since that time, Sheridan has meticulously grown to feature eight teams: men's and women's basketball, volleyball, soccer and rugby.

The men's and women's cross country teams will bring that number to 10, a size Flack feels is equally responsible and sustainable.

"We have to balance the need for varsity representation with the absolute responsibility of providing leading-edge exercise and recreational activities for the general student body," he said. "We take both mandates very seriously, and want a healthy balance on all of our campuses."

Sheridan cross country is not without its historical success. The men's team has won three OCAA championships - also possessing a second and third place finish in the trophy case - while the women's team were crowned champions once and runners-up on another occasion.

"Our next move is to find a coach," added Flack. "It needs to be someone who understands the balanced role of varsity sport in the development of the student-athlete, but who also has a background in training elite athletes. We have a way of doing things here that's just a little different, and we are very proud of that."

Interested candidates should contact Wayne Fish, varsity coordinator at (905)-459-7533 ext, 5261, or by email at wayne.fish@sheridancollege.ca.

Source: Sheridan College