Get in the game!
At Messiah, we believe athletic experiences are an important part of your academic, personal and spiritual growth. Whether you’re a student athlete or an enthusiastic Falcons fan, Messiah Athletics serve as a central and exciting piece of our college community and provide a common bond for school spirit. In addition to NCAA athletics, there are many club sports and recreational leagues on campus. No matter what level you compete at, you practice something of lifelong importance—directing your talents and hard work toward a greater purpose.
Athletic recognitions
35 NCAA Division III Championships
375 NCAA Division III All-Americans
183 Conference Team Championships
Top 100 Schools for Sports Lovers - Money Magazine and Sports Illustrated
Messiah offers 22 NCAA Division III men’s and women’s athletic teams
- Men's Baseball
- Men's Basketball
- Men's Cross Country
- Men's Lacrosse
- Men's Soccer
- Men's Swimming
- Men's Tennis
- Men's Track & Field
- Men's Volleyball
- Men's Wrestling
- Women's Basketball
- Women's Cross Country
- Women's Field Hockey
- Women's Lacrosse
- Women's Soccer
- Women's Softball
- Women's Swimming
- Women's Tennis
- Women's Track & Field
- Women's Volleyball
Messiah University has a competitive and diverse club sports program. Each Messiah club sport, which competes against teams from other colleges and universities, is funded by the Student Government Association (SGA), advised by a Messiah employee, and is supervised by two Messiah University Athletics staff members
Our recreational sports program provides a fun, safe and competitive outlet for Messiah students and employees to participate in organized sports activities while exemplifying Christ-like attitudes and sportsmanship. Rec sports teams, which compete against each other for the coveted campus rec sports league title, create lasting friendships, build character, and provide physical challenge.
Read More about NCAA Teams Read More about Club Sports Read More about Rec Sports
Physical fitness
Our facilities
Whether you’re training for a race or want to play a spontaneous game with friends, our fitness facilities offer a variety of spaces to help you stay active! Between our Sollenberger Sports Center and our outdoor venues, we offer four basketball courts, an indoor track and fitness center, a natatorium, racquetball courts, outdoor tennis and volleyball courts, and our well-used fitness trail.
Cardio
Our fitness center holds over 120 pieces of cardiovascular equipment, including Precor upright bikes, recumbent bikes, treadmills, ellipticals and adaptive motion trainers. You can create a Preva account to track your workouts over time. In addition, we offer rowers, a Jacobs Ladder and Assault Air bikes for those who love interval and high intensity training.
STRENGTH TRAINING
Are you looking for resistance training? We have all the right equipment for you! Our fitness center offers dumbbells ranging from 3 to 125 lbs., eight power racks, multiple air-powered Kieser cable machines, a plate circuit, a machine circuit and a functional Queenex frame complete with TRX suspension trainers, battle ropes and kettlebells.
YELLOW BREECHES
The Yellow Breeches are an icon here at Messiah University. You will often see students tubing down the breeches or splashing their feet in the water to cool off on a warm day.
FREDERICKSEN NATATORIUM
Located on the ground floor of Sollenberger Sports Center, and home to Messiah’s swim teams, the Fredricksen Natatorium includes eight 25-yard lanes and updated bleacher seating.
TENNIS COURTS
Criste Courts are six match-quality tennis courts (hard), plus four additional recreational courts. While providing the student body and community with a recreational tennis venue, the courts are also home to the Falcons’ men’s and women’s tennis teams.
OUTDOOR TRACK
The Starry outdoor track, surfaced with cushion, is used for recreation and sports team such as track and field.
FITNESS TRAIL
With its picturesque setting, mulched pathways, and frequently spotted wildlife, the Stabler Fitness Trail gives you the perfect setting for a serene and peaceful workout.
GROUP FITNESS
Do you enjoy taking group fitness classes? With our certified and well-experienced instructors, you will be challenged and motivated to work out in a group setting. Varying on the semester, you have the option to take classes such as spin, core class, pilates, gentle yoga, active yoga, no-machine resistance training and aquatics.
JORDAN COURT
The newly-renovated arena, which hosts our basketball and volleyball games, seats more than 1,600 fans in the facility and holds a hanging scoreboard, as well as a state-of-the-art videoboard.
Group Fitness
Group fitness classes at the Falcon Fitness Center are a great way to enjoy a workout and try something new. From relaxing, slow-paced stretching to heart-pumping intensity, Messiah offers students and employees a range of fitness classes to suit anyone’s needs. Messiah only hires instructors who are certified and well experienced to give our visitors the best experience possible.
Spin is an indoor cycle ride and is a great way to challenge your fitness and burn calories. Tackle mountains, rolling hills, sprints and other fun drills to keep your body and mind engaged!
The core class encompasses a lot more than your “six pack abs.” This class will challenge all aspects of your core using body weight-only exercises, stability balls, medicine balls, core bags and other unique equipment.
Pilates provides an opportunity to exercise the entire body and renew the mind. Pilates is a meaningful way to recharge physically and mentally before heading into the remainder of the afternoon.
An emphasis is placed on creating a connection between movement and breath. Yoga also focuses on building awareness of mind, body, and breath.
Game day experience
As a Messiah student, you'll have many opportunities to be a spectator and become a loyal Falcon fan, cheering on our 22 NCAA Division III teams at countless athletic events. Whether you’re at the diamond cheering on the softball team or spending a Saturday watching soccer or lacrosse, it’s a great way to spend time with friends and get in the school spirit!
And the crowd goes wild…
“I love Messiah athletics because the fans are so genuine, funny and supportive, and the players are every day people that many of us share classes with.”
“Being an athlete and a fan is cool, supporting the other teams is like supporting family. The student section is a blessing- awesome and so humbling, they are the reason I play.”
“Messiah teams are so easy to support; the community involvement, the student excitement, and the appreciation from the team is evident with every sport.”
“The basketball team has felt like a family to me. I feel like I'm part of the team. I want to get people out there, make this school proud, and make my Messiah family proud.”
“The student section is always chanting and it’s just an exciting environment to be in. Overall the atmosphere of these games have been exciting to be a part of for me.”
Sports Camps
Messiah University Athletics hold a number of sports camps throughout the year, especially during the summer months. The Falcons’ sports camps provide a fun, safe and competitive atmosphere for boys and girls of all ages to improve in their skills and grow their love of sports and activity. It’s also a great opportunity for prospective student athletes to get to know Messiah’s campus and coaches. Many of Messiah’s student-athletes serve as instructors at the camps, creating mentorship opportunities and leadership development.
Sports ministry
Messiah wants to be a place where where you can align your purpose in sport with your purpose in life—to glorify God. AROMA, which stands for A Revolution of Missional Athletes, is designed for just that. We believe that by providing student-athletes with opportunities to participate in the Kingdom of God through sport, there is a paradigm shift in the true purpose of sports. That shift causes students to “see anew” and realize, perhaps for the first time, that they can use their gifting in athletics to build God’s kingdom.
But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads in every place the fragrance that comes from knowing him. For we are the AROMA of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.
- 2 Corinthians 2:14-15