The Lenoir–Rhyne Bears are the athletic teams that represent Lenoir–Rhyne University, located in Hickory, North Carolina, in intercollegiate sports at the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Bears have primarily competed in the South Atlantic Conference[2] since the 1989–90 academic year.
| Lenoir–Rhyne Bears | |
|---|---|
 | |
| University | Lenoir–Rhyne University |
| Conference | South Atlantic (primary) |
| NCAA | Division II |
| Athletic director | Kim Pate[1] |
| Location | Hickory, North Carolina |
| Varsity teams | 22 (10 men's, 11 women's, 1 co-ed) |
| Football stadium | Helen & Leonard Moretz Stadium |
| Basketball arena | Shuford Arena |
| Baseball stadium | Durham Field |
| Softball stadium | Bears Field |
| Soccer stadium | Soccer Field at Moretz Sports Athletic Campus |
| Aquatics center | Shuford Pool |
| Tennis venue | YMCA of Catawba Valley |
| Mascot | Joe and Josie Bear |
| Nickname | Bears |
| Colors | Cardinal and Black |
| Website | lrbears |
Lenoir–Rhyne competes in 23 intercollegiate varsity sports. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, tennis, and track and field (indoor and outdoor); while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field (indoor and outdoor), triathlon, and volleyball.
Conference affiliations
- South Atlantic Conference (1989–present)
Varsity teams
| Men's sports | Women's sports |
|---|---|
| Baseball | Basketball |
| Basketball | Cross country |
| Cross country | Golf |
| Football | Lacrosse |
| Golf | Soccer |
| Lacrosse | Softball |
| Soccer | Swimming |
| Swimming | Tennis |
| Tennis | Track and field† |
| Track and field† | Triathlon |
| Volleyball | |
| † – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor | |
Baseball
Lenoir–Rhyne has had 7 Major League Baseball Draft selections since the draft began in 1965.[3]
| Year | Player | Round | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Craig Corbett | 10 | Expos |
| 1991 | Steven Davis | 31 | Cubs |
| 1991 | Michael Tidwell | 25 | Cubs |
| 1999 | Ralph Roberts | 36 | Devil Rays |
| 2000 | Ralph Roberts | 32 | Diamondbacks |
| 2000 | Samuel Hewitt | 28 | Athletics |
| 2003 | Brad Nelson | 10 | Braves |
| 2017 | John Curtis | 10 | Braves |
Football
Men's Lacrosse
On May 28, 2023, Lenoir-Rhyne defeated Mercyhurst 20-5 in the NCAA Division II National Championship.[4]