SALT LAKE CITY – Westminster College is pleased to announce the addition of men's and women's cycling to its intercollegiate athletic program beginning Fall 2017. This competitive cycling program will consist of both mountain and road cycling disciplines. This addition will give Westminster College a total of 15 NCAA II sport teams and six non-NCAA sport teams competing within intercollegiate athletics.
 
Westminster Director of Athletics Shay Wyatt announced the hiring of MJ Turner to serve as head coach and architect of the startup program.  "We look forward to MJ joining our staff and leading this new startup program", said Wyatt. "His knowledge and passion for the sport will be instrumental with establishing a quality program. The popularity of cycling in and around Utah and the landscape of our state, offers a natural fit for a cycling program to our institution. Offering a competitive cycling program at the collegiate level will increase opportunities and further enhance the educational experience we're able to offer students."
 
A native of Park City, Utah, Turner is the President and Founder of Summit Bike Club which was named the 2015 Mountain Bike Club of Year by USA Cycling. Turner holds his USA Cycling coaches license and currently serves as a board member of the Inter-Mountain Collegiate Cycling Conference. Turner served as a volunteer coach for the Park City High School Cycling Club and will graduate from Westminster College this December with his Bachelor's degree in Business Administration.
 
The cycling program plans to compete in the Inter-Mountain Collegiate Cycling Conference as a club under USA Cycling www.usacycling.com. For more information on the Westminster Cycling program visit WestminsterGriffins.com or contact Coach MJ Turner at mturner@westminstercollege.edu.
 
About USA Cycling
USA Cycling is the official cycling organization recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and the International Cycling Union (UCI), and is responsible for identifying, training, and selecting cyclists to represent the United States in international competition. In addition to preparing elite-level athletes for world-class competition, USA Cycling aims to ensure the ongoing safety and development of the sport in America.
 
About Inter-Mountain Collegiate Cycling Conference
The Inter-Mountain Collegiate Cycling Conference (IMCCC) is a collection of cycling clubs representing colleges and universities from Utah, East Nevada, and Southeast Idaho. We are one of eleven conferences that make up the collegiate program of USA Cycling, the national governing body of cycling in the United States. Our athletes compete in road, mountain, and cyclocross racing throughout the academic year at the conference level with hopes of qualifying for the USA Cycling Collegiate National Championships.
 
About Westminster College
Westminster is a private, independent, and comprehensive college in Salt Lake City, Utah. Students experience the liberal arts blended with professional programs in an atmosphere dedicated to civic engagement. With the goal of enabling its graduates to live vibrant, just, and successful lives, Westminster provides transformational learning experiences for both undergraduate and graduate students in a truly student-centered environment. Faculty focus on teaching, learning, and developing distinctive, innovative programs, while students thrive on Westminster's urban Sugar House campus within minutes of the Rocky Mountains. For more information, visit www.westminstercollege.edu or follow WestminsterSLC on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.