Atherton, CA- As announced by the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) earlier this summer Menlo Athletics will begin their next step into full blown NCAA membership. This second year will be highlighted by the Oaks beginning to compete as members of the PacWest Conference. Coming from their last year as members of the NAIA and GSAC the Oaks put together one of the best, if not the best season for the schools athletic programs. The Oaks set numerous department records including the most winners in department history for Coach of the Year, Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year and All-Conference nominations. The department also set an all-time record for most wins in a season. Menlo should be well positioned to make the transition to the PacWest from a competition standpoint. 

Menlo will be joined by longtime GSAC rivals Jessup University and Vanguard University. On top of making the jump with familiar faces and an old foe, the Warriors of Westmont University have already spent a year competing among the PacWest. For the past year Menlo's athletic leadership has been in countless meetings and seminars. On top of that, both the NCAA and PacWest have made regular visits to campus to introduce themselves and keep an eye on Oaks progress throughout the transition. 

Menlo will be members of the conference's Northern California pod featuring Academy of Art (San Francisco), Jessup (Rocklin) and Dominican (San Rafael). Eleven other departments make up the remainder of the PacWest with a wide geographic footprint that includes Southern California and Hawaii. August 28th will mark the official start of the coming athletics season with Men's Soccer facing off against Stanislaus State on the road in Turlock, California.