Editorial Board

The issue:

The Women’s Basketball team earned a bid to the WNIT.

Our view:

The berth confirms SDSU’s place in D-I and everyone should be proud of that.

A simple phone call made the hurdles, criticisms and doubts worthwhile.

When Aaron Johnston received confirmation that SDSU received an at-large berth for the Women’s National Invitation Tournament, it meant more than an extended season for the Jackrabbits.

Not many people predicted that the Jackrabbits would see postseason competition so quickly after the D-I move. But with the four-year anniversary a few months away, SDSU is ranked among the top 16 teams in the WNIT and received a bye for the first round. Not only are they in, they are at the top.

SDSU’s appearance in the WNIT will be the first for a transition team in the tournament’s 10-year history. It will also be the first time any SDSU team will compete in Division-I postseason play. This announcement came shortly after Jackrabbit wrestler Ryan Meyer qualified for the national tournament, becoming the first SDSU athlete to do so since the division jump.

Those accomplishments are among a growing list (Mid-Continent, Gateway Football Conference) of athletic achievements that continue to prove SDSU belongs in DI.

A sports fan or not, WNIT is important to every SDSU student, alum, fan because it verifies that the move was the right decision. We can compete with bigger schools and be successful at it.

SDSU was academically DI before the move, but, like it or not, athletics is more visible and our success at DI is rated by our athletic success. And such an achievement will probably produce more national recognition, increased donations, ect.

The women will not be representing just Jackrabbit athletics, but all of SDSU on March 17. Whether they win it all or are beat out after one game, just being there means something.

So be there. Support them. Thank them.