The state of West Virginia will play host to a pair of NCAA national championship events in 2019.
The NCAA released its host sites for NCAA regional and national championship events from 2019-22, and two Mountain State cities - Morgantown and Daniels - will welcome teams from across the country in 2019. West Virginia University will host the men's and women's rifle championships on March 8-9, 2019, while The Resort at Glade Springs will host the Division II men's golf championships on May 20-24, 2019.
WVU also will host an NCAA gymnastics regional on April 3, 2021.
The marriage of WVU and the rifle championships is a no-brainer. The Mountaineers are the most successful rifle team in NCAA history, winning 19 titles in their history, including the last five straight. This marks the first time WVU has ever hosted an NCAA national championship event.
"It is a tremendous honor for West Virginia University to host the 2019 NCAA Rifle Championships," WVU athletic director Shane Lyons said. "We are very proud of our successful rifle program, and there is no better place to hold the NCAA's greatest match than in Morgantown."
"The history and the tradition of the WVU rifle program, as well as our recent success, will surely make this championship even more special," WVU rifle coach Jon Hammond added. "I feel confident that Mountaineer Nation will be incredibly excited to watch and support a National Championship in Morgantown."
The Mountain East Conference will be the host of the golf tournament in Daniels. Glade Springs is hosting a Division II regional tournament this May. The MEC, which will host the NCAA Division II national softball championships in Salem, Virginia, this season, also will co-host the 2021 Division II national lacrosse tournament in Salem.
"It is a tremendous honor for the NCAA to have selected the Mountain East Conference as hosts for multiple NCAA Division II National Championship," MEC Commissioner Reid Amos said. "While these championships help strengthen our brand and exposure nationally, we are just as excited to bring great student-athletes and fans to this area of the country and showcase the beautiful venues at Glade Springs Resort and Kerr Stadium. We are certain that the student-athletes will have a great experience at these championships and create life-long memories."