The University of Guam is known for a lot of great things, but for the past decade and a half, sports hasn’t been really a part of the school’s track record. Besides only a few humble attempts, there really has not been any real effort to bring back sports to the university until now.

The Tritons Athletics program officially kicked off at the beginning of this semester. Now the university has a variety of three different varsity sports to offer for it’s students, a men’s basketball team, a women’s volleyball team, and both a men’s and women’s soccer team.

Each team is available for any eligible university students to try out. To be considered eligible, student-Athletes must have proof of health insurance to play/practice varsity athletics at the University of Guam, students most have an athletic physical prior to beginning play/practice for the Triton Athletic Department, students must be full-time at the university (minimum 12 credits for undergraduates and as defined by program requirements for graduate students) to play/practice.

The university has appointed Douglas W. Palmer as the director of the Tritons Athletics program. Douglas W. Palmer has a large and broad history as an athletic administrator, coach and public servant. Mr. Palmer has won a college national championship as a coach and has hosted multiple national championships as an administrator.

Mr. Palmer has high hopes for the Tritons Athletics program and believes that the program will continue to grow as time goes by. “We are trying to have eight sports in two years time,” says Palmer “but really depends on the money”.

Mr. Palmer also expressed his views on how important it is for any university to have a good athletics program. “it gets the University of Guam’s name out there and gets people who didn’t know about the university ask questions about it,” says Palmer. While also adding that it can help bring some money to the university.

“We are going to try to make a homecoming soon so that the entire school, including alumni can get together for a basketball game,” says Palmer. He also expresses that he plans to use athletics to bring the University of Guam community closer, and bring back the alumni that have lost touch with the university.

“It’s about time,” says Wells Earnest, a Sophomore here at the University of Guam, “I think this will definitely bring the UOG community closer together.” Earnest also added his views of how it is “a great step forward” for the University of Guam.

The Tritons Athletics program was crafted by a select group of staff here at the University of Guam. Known as the Athletics Compliance Committee, this committee helps with ensuring that the program runs smoothly. The committee members are, Randall Wiegand, Vice President of Administration & Finance, Douglas Palmer, Athletic Director, Dr. Michael Gunn, Dean of Enrollment Management & Student Success Dr. Michelle Santos, Assistant Professor, Secondary Education, Remy Cristobal, Associate Dean of Enrollment Management & Student Success, Mark Duarte, Director of Financial Aid, Jonas Macapinlac, Director of Integrated Marketing Communications.

For more information about the Tritons Athletics program, visit their web site, www.uog.edu/athletics/ or contact Douglas W. Palmer at palmerd@triton.uog.edu.