Cambrian adds women's basketball to varsity lineup

Cambrian College is adding a new sport to its varsity lineup this fall with the introduction of a women's basketball team.

Tim Yu, athletics co-ordinator at Cambrian, said the idea of a women's basketball team is something that has been tossed around at the college for a number of years. There is already a men's team in place.

“There's a lot of interest,” he said. He added there are a large number of women “dying” to have a team at the college.

While attending a director's meeting last September, Yu said someone mentioned bringing football into the colleges, and it was an idea he was entertaining.

“I thought it was a good fit, but it was too expensive,” he said. It also would have thrown off the balance of gender equality within the varsity sports offered at the college.

“I looked at women's basketball and it was a way better fit,” the athletics co-ordinator said.

For the 2011-2012 season, the Cambrian squad will participate in competition on an exhibition level, according to OCAA rules.

“It's to make sure it's a good fit and to see if we can handle it financially,” Yu said.

Cambrian's varsity sports include badminton, men's basketball, cross-country running, men's and women's soccer and men's and women's volleyball.