Adrian is one of seven conference schools who will be sponsoring men's and women's lacrosse in 2013, along with Albion, Alma, Calvin, Hope, Olivet and Trine. Adrian athletics photo

The MIAA announced today that it will add men’s lacrosse and women’s lacrosse as varsity conference sports, effective with the 2012-13 season, the 125th anniversary season for America’s oldest collegiate athletic conference.

Competition in men’s and women’s lacrosse will begin with the fall non-traditional season in 2012 and conclude with conference regular season and tournament play in the spring of 2013, commissioner David Neilson said.

The MIAA should receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament in men's and women's lacrosse immediately.

The addition of these sports brings to 20 the number of varsity sports the MIAA will sponsor in 2012-13, and marks the first new sports to be added to the conference’s lineup since it added women’s golf in 1991.

Seven MIAA member schools will sponsor men’s and women’s lacrosse in the 2012-13 season – Adrian, Albion, Alma, Calvin, Hope, Olivet and Trine, Neilson said.