By Greg Halbleib

LINCOLN – Lincoln College is making a transition from junior college athletics into four-year competition.

The college has announced it has been accepted into the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, the governing body for about 250 small colleges and universities. The transition into four-year athletics begins next school year.

New Lincoln College Athletic Director Mark Perdue says he has experience at the two-year and four-year levels, and sees the benefit of the four-year programs.

“I would have so many athletes after two years say, ‘Gosh, I wish you were four years. I’m just really starting to like this place,'” Perdue said.

Perdue said the Lynx squads will play as NAIA independents this year, but he has leads on three conferences to join.

“The closest would be the Chicagoland, the second would be the American Midwest, which is down in Missouri,” Perdue said. “I had a call today from the Crossroads Conference, which is over in Ohio, Indiana and Michigan.”

Lincoln College President David Gerlach calls the move a critical step in returning to the school’s roots as a four-year university. Lincoln College already offers bachelor’s degrees in several majors.

Greg Halbleib can be reached at [email protected].