Athletics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Athletics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

MIT sponsors 31 varsity sports and is one of three broader sports programs NCAA Division III. MIT participates in the NCAA Division III, the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference, the Football Conference New England, the Pilgrim League for men's lacrosse and Eastern Association NCAA Division I College Women's rowing (EAWRC) for the crew of women. Men's Crew competes out of the NCAA East Association of Rowing Colleges (EARC). In April 2009, budget cuts lead to MIT eliminating eight of its 41 sports, including the mixed men's and women's teams in alpine skiing and pistol; separate teams for men and women in ice hockey and gymnastics and men's programs in golf and wrestling.

Institute's sports teams are called the Engineers, their mascot since 1914 being a beaver, "nature's engineer." Lester Gardner, a member of the Class of 1898, provided the following justification:
"The beaver not only typifies the technology, but their habits are particularly our. Beaver is known for his engineering and mechanical skills and habits of industry. Their habits are nocturnal. He does his best work in the dark."

MIT sent several intercollegiate tiddlywinks dominant teams until 1980, winning national and world championships. MIT has produced 188 Academic All-American, the third largest share of the country for any division and the highest number of members for Division III.

Zesiger sports and fitness center (Z-Center) which opened in 2002, significantly expanded the capacity and quality of MIT sports, physical education, and recreation offerings to 10 buildings and 26 acres (110,000 m2) of the playing fields. The installation of 124,000 square feet (11,500 m2), has an Olympic-class swimming pools, international-scale squash courts, and a gym with two floors.