ABOUT LOURDES ATHLETICS
Lourdes University’s athletics program sponsors 24 sports and is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The Gray Wolves are members of the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC), with wrestling competing in the Mid-South Conference (MSC).
Nationally, Lourdes athletics has produced over 25 NAIA Team Appearances, over 25 NAIA individual qualifiers, one NAIA National Champion, and over 40 NAIA All-American honorees. Additionally, over 500 student-athletes have been named NAIA Scholar-Athletes.
In the WHAC, Lourdes has had 175 individuals named to the WHAC Champions of Character Team, 143 Team conference appearances, and 85 individuals earn First-Team All-Conference accolades.
HISTORY OF LOURDES ATHLETICS
The Gray Wolves’ athletics program began during the 2010-2011 school year with four sports: women’s volleyball, men’s basketball, men’s golf, and women’s golf. One year later women’s basketball, men’s volleyball, and baseball entered the fold while softball became the school’s eighth sport in 2012-2013. Five more sports were added to the mix in 2013-2014: men’s cross country, women’s cross country, men’s lacrosse, women’s lacrosse, and cheer and dance. Men's and women's soccer joined the program in 2015-2016, while men's wrestling was added to the lineup in 2016-2017. In the 2017-2018 school year, Lourdes added Esports, and then men's and women's bowling in the 2018-2019 campaign. The 2019-2020 season saw Lourdes add men's and women's tennis, men's and women's track and field, and women's wrestling to get to the total of 24 sports.
As Lourdes enters its 15th season of competition in intercollegiate athletics in 2024-2025, the Gray Wolves have already seen a great deal of success. Men’s Basketball reached the first round of the NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball Championship in both 2012 and 2013 while women’s volleyball qualified for the opening round of the NAIA Women’s Volleyball Championship in 2013 before advancing to pool play in both 2016 and 2017. The softball team qualified for the NAIA Softball Championship opening round in 2016. The men’s volleyball team earned a bid to the 2014, 2016, and 2017 NAIA Men’s Volleyball National Invitational while the cheer squad earned a berth in the 2014 and 2016 NAIA Competitive Cheer and Dance National Invitational. Men's lacrosse has qualified for the NAIA Men's Lacrosse National Invitational in both 2016 and 2017.
ATHLETICS MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the athletic department is to develop respect, integrity, responsibility, servant leadership, and sportsmanship among our student athletes. Lourdes, sponsored by the Sisters of St. Francis, is committed to the intellectual, physical, emotional, and spiritual development of students. Through participation in athletics our student athletes are guided by our Franciscan values of learning reverence, and service as well as five tenants of the NAIA Champions of Character.
GRAY WOLVES MASCOT
The Gray Wolf represents:
- The reverence St. Francis had for all of God's creatures -- including animals and nature
- The story of St. Francis and the Wolf of Gubbio
The Color Scheme Signifies:
- The traditional colors of Lourdes University -- terracotta, black, and white
- The dominant color of the Spanish Missions
- The rich color of the earth, reflecting the natural beauty surrounding Lourdes University
HISTORY OF "GUBI"
The Gray Wolf was officially adopted as the Lourdes University mascot in the spring of 2008. The first official appearance was October 28, 2009 when the Gray Wolf’s birthday was celebrated as part of the annual “Trunk or Treat” festivities. During his second birthday celebration, Lourdes Gray Wolf was treated to a big birthday surprise and was finally bestowed with a name - Gubi! Named after the Wolf of Gubbio who worked with St. Francis of Assisi, it’s only fitting that Gubi helps carry Lourdes’ Franciscan heritage throughout the institution’s student life and athletic programs.
LOURDES GRAY WOLVES FIGHT SONG
"Gray Wolf Spirit"
We are the Gray Wolves; come hear us howl!
We strive for vict'ry, we're on the prowl.
Out on the court or out in the field
Gray Wolves fight and never yield!
Gray Wolves are brave and Gray Wolves are bold!
Our loyalty will never grow old:
Gray Wolves with fearless stride march
Forward with true Lourdes Pride
Fighting on for Vic to ry!
(updated Sept. 2024)
