JANESVILLE — Blackhawk Technical College is now a member of the National Junior College Athletics Association (NJCAA) and set to compete in Region 4 at the Division II level. Blackhawk will offer men’s golf and coed clay target shooting this spring, women’s volleyball and coed bowling in the fall, and men’s and women’s basketball in late 2024.

“Blackhawk Athletics is an extension of our goal to create vibrant student life on campus. We believe that the culture of athletics on campus will become a source of pride, uniting our community and creating lasting memories that extend beyond the playing field,” said Dr. Tracy Pierner, President of Blackhawk Technical College.

To oversee and lead Blackhawk Athletics, the college has hired Todd Voss as a part-time athletic director. He will work with a team of coaches and spearhead the recruitment of student-athletes.

“I’m excited about this opportunity to build an athletics program and to inspire our student-athletes,” said Voss, who has 32 years of experience as a teacher and coach.

The bowling team, which practices at RiversEdge Bowl in Janesville, competed in one tournament last fall in Madison and plans to expand its competition this coming fall. The men’s golf team will use Riverside Golf Course as its home course this spring, and the clay target shooting team will work closely with the Janesville Conservation Club. The volleyball team and the basketball teams will use Blackhawk’s new gymnasium in the Public Safety Center, which is set to open in August.

Looking ahead, Blackhawk plans to expand the range of sports offered based on student interest. The college also plans to announce an athletics nickname — Blazers, Raptors, Talons, River Hawks, Blackhawks, Hawks or Trailblazers — on May 1. Residents of Rock and Green counties can vote for their favorite nickname at blackhawk.edu/athletics through March 15.

Students interested in learning more about Blackhawk Athletics can visit blackhawk.edu/athletics or reach out to Voss at athletics@blackhawk.edu.