AREA COLLEGE NOTEBOOK

The Master’s College, which fields eight men’s and women’s teams, has been accepted into the Golden State Athletic Conference beginning in August.

The school will serve a one-year probationary period and then be eligible for conference championships beginning with the 2001-02 year.

Master’s is the 11th member of the conference, which features a number of teams that the independent Mustangs regularly compete against.

Master’s competes in men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s cross-country, women’s volleyball and baseball.

In the last three seasons, Master’s had had teams ranked in the NAIA top 25 for men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, volleyball and men’s soccer.

“We’re looking forward to it,” said Bill Oates, Master’s athletic director and coach of the No. 10-ranked men’s basketball team.

“With the way independent [schools] went, with a lot of them joining conferences, this makes it beneficial for us from a scheduling standpoint.”

The GSAC was formed in 1986 by several Christian colleges.

“The Master’s College brings a very competitive, balanced sports program, which will enhance GSAC competition,” said Dr. Cliff Hamlow, GSAC president.

“The Master’s shares the common Christian education commitment of the conference schools and joins in presenting a very competitive athletic experience for all of our student-athletes.”

GSAC members are Azusa Pacific, Biola, Cal Baptist, Christian Heritage, Concordia, Fresno Pacific, Hope International, Point Loma Nazarene, Vanguard and Westmont.