Sewanee's athletic program emphasizes physical education, intramurals, and intercollegiate competition. Sewanee is a Division III member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and a member of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC). While the college does not offer athletic scholarships, its intercollegiate program offers many opportunities for keen competition for men and women.
The athletic program for men includes intercollegiate baseball, basketball, cross country, equestrian, football, golf, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, lacrosse, and track & field. Varsity intercollegiate sports for women include basketball, cross country, equestrian, field hockey, golf, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track & field, lacrosse, and volleyball. Club sports are also offered — bicycling, cricket, fencing, rugby, ski, crew, and canoe teams.
In addition to the intercollegiate programs, the athletic department promotes club and intramural competition for men and women in a number of sports and offers a wide range of activities for its physical education classes. More than seventy percent of the student body participates in the athletic program at either the intercollegiate or intramural level.
The Robert Dobbs Fowler Sport and Fitness Center (commonly called the Fowler Center) includes a nine-track pool with diving well, an indoor track with field event areas, multipurpose volleyball and basketball courts, batting cage, 1,000-seat performance gym, racquetball courts, squash court, indoor bouldering wall (60' long x 12' high), training rooms and machines, locker rooms, dance studios, indoor tennis courts, and a classroom.
Equestrian Center
The University offers a riding program for all experience levels. Facilities include a spacious barn, outdoor rings, a dressage arena, stadium and cross-country jumps, pasture, individual paddocks, indoor riding arena and easy access to the fire trails.
Instruction is offered in balance-seat equitation from beginning to advanced levels. Special courses are also offered in training, management, and teaching. Clinics with guest instructors are offered to more serious students each semester, and students participate in a number of shows, fox hunts, and endurance rides.The Sewanee Equestrian Team enjoys a national reputation.
The University has been given several outstanding show horses available for use in the program. There is also some boarding space for student-owned horses. Arrangements to board horses may be made with the director of the center.
Classes offered for all levels of riding activity may earn physical education credit.
The Equestrian Center includes a 32-stall school horse barn, a 14-stall boarder barn, a 100' by 250' indoor riding arena with permaflex footing, a 100' by 200' outdoor riding arena, 30 acres of pasture and individual paddocks. Boarding for students and community members is available. Group lessons for physical education credit are offered each semester. Private lessons for boarders are also available. The University owns horses which are available to students in lessons. The varsity Equestrian Team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association.
